DIFFERENT STAPLES OF COTTON 



INDIAN COTTON VIZ. 1 BENCAL 

G-ossypiwn/ 
IrubLcwru 

2 MADRAS 

3 COMMON SURATS 

4 PRIME SURATS 

5 WEST INDIES. UPLANDS 
DENIER ARA , BERBICE 
AND SMYRNA 

6 MOBILE 86 ALABAMA 

7 NEW ORLEANS 

8 BAH I A 8c MACEIO 

9 MARANHAM & PARA 

10 PERNAMBUCO, ARACALI, 
AND CEARA 

3L PERUVIAN 

EGYPTIAN sccnw svze> as 

12 SEA ISLAND 



N. AMER I CAN VIZ. 
Gassypzunv 
Barhaol&nse/ 



S. AMERICAN VIZ. 

Gossypuurrv 
TeruMUXrvurrv 



N . AMERICAN VIZ. 

Gvssypium/ 
3arbouLerhce> 
{long staple;) 



HAND-BOOK 

TO THE 



COTTON CULTIVATION 

IN" THE 



MADRAS PRESIDENCY: 



EXHIBITING 

THE PRINCIPAL CONTENTS OF THE VARIOUS PUBLIC RECORDS AND 
OTHER WORKS CONNECTED WITH THE SUBJECT IN A CONDENSED 
AND CLASSIFIED FORM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH A RESOLUTION 
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA. 



J. TALBOYS WHEELER, 

AUTHOR OP AN" " ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY OP THE OLD TESTAMENT," AN 
" ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY OP THE NEW TESTAMENT," ETC. 




LONDON: 

VIRTUE BROTHERS AND CO., 1, AMEN CORNER, 
PATERNOSTER BOW. 
1863. 



JOHN CKILDS AND SON, PRINTERS. 



PREFACE. 



In submitting tne present Hand-book to the public, but 
few observations are necessary. The compiler has simply 
reduced a mass of matter to a convenient form for perusal 
and reference. The necessity for such a condensation will 
he trusts, prove a sufficient apology to the many distinguished 
writers, whose minutes, reports, and correspondence have 
been thus abridged and arranged in a continuous narrative* 
In the last Chapter, however, which exhibits the present 
condition of the Cotton culture in the Madras Presidency, 
it has been deemed expedient to present the reader with full 
extracts from the letters of the Collectors of the several Dis- 
tricts, rather than with abstracts ; as the subject matter ap- 
pears to be of greater importance, inasmuch as it refers to 
the present condition and prospects of the country. 

J. T. W. 

MA.DBAS, 

11th March, 1862. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I, 

GENERAL VIEW OF" THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY, AND OF THE 
IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED IN INDIAN COTTON. 

Hand-Book to the Cotton Cultivation of each Presidency ordered by 
the Government of India, page 2 ; Method pursued in drawing up the 
present Hand-Book to the Madras Presidency, 2 ; Three objects 
sought by the East India Company with reference to Cotton, 4 ; 
Boundaries of the Madras Presidency, 4 ; Physical features of the 
country, 4 ; Three modifications of the tropical heat : viz. the 
table-land, the sea, and the two monsoons, 5 ; North-east mon- 
soon, October to April : South-west monsoon, May to Septem- 
ber, 5 ; Climate of the Madras Presidency and Cotton States of 
North America compared : reversal of Seasons, 6 ; Bevenue Di- 
visions of the Madras Presidency, 6; Bevenue systems of the 
Madras Presidency : based upon the Tillage Communities, 7 ; 
Three Bevenue systems : 1st, Village joint-rent system, 8 ; 2nd, 
The Zemindary system, 9 ; 3rd, The Byotwary system, 9 ; Ad- 
vantages of the Byotwary tenure over the Zemindary tenure and 
the Village joint-rent system, 10 ; Bevenue division of lands ; 
Government, Zemindary, and Inam, 10 ; Nature and extent of the 
Cotton soil of India, 11 ; Pour great Cotton Districts : Bellary 
and Cuddapah to the North ; Coimbatore and Tinnevelly to the 
South, 12 ; Statistics of the Cotton-growing Districts, 12 ; Be- 
view of the three improvements required in the Indian Cotton, 13 ; 
1st, Better variety of Cotton : general classification of Indian and 
American Cotton, 3 3 ; Six leading varieties of Cotton, viz. Indian, 
Bourbon, New Orleans, Pernambuco, Egyptian, and Sea Island, 14 ; 
Indian, Bourbon, and New Orleans Cotton compared, 15 ; 2nd, 
Better system of Cultivation : Indian and American agriculture 
compared, 16 ; 3rd, Better method of separating and cleaning the 
Cotton : (1) The Poot Boiler, 16 ; (2) The Native Churka, 17 ; 
(3) The American Saw Gin, 17 ; (4) The Thresher, 18 ; Division 
of the subject matter of the present Hand-Book, 19 ; Twelve years 
of Cotton Experiments, divisible into three periods of four years 
each, 20 ; Specialities of the several Chapters, 21. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER II. 

FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER DR. WIGHT AND 
THE AMERICAN PLANTERS, 1841 TO 1845. 

Stoppage of demand for Indian muslins and calicoes, bnt growing de- 
mand for Cotton wool, 23 ; Early efforts to extend and improve 
Indian Cotton, 24; Introduction of Bourbon Cotton into the 
Madras Presidency, 24; Mr. Metcalfe, an American Cotton cleaner, 
sent to the Presidency, 1813 : efforts of the Madras Government, 
1819-1836, 25 ; Ten American Planters sent to India, 1840, 27 ; 
Prevailing opinions upon Cotton cultivation in the Madras Presi- 
dency, 27 ; Three Planters located in Tinnevelly, October, 1840, 28 ; 
Contemplated removal of the Planters to the neighbourhood of Mr. 
Fischer's establishment at Salem, 29 ; Eirst Season, 1841-42 : 
commenced under Captain Hughes, 30 : Reported failure in con- 
sequence of a heavy monsoon, January, 1842, 31 ; Sudden renova- 
tion of the crop : Dr. Wight succeeds Captain Hughes, 31 ; Rela- 
tive effects of the Monsoon, the Drought, and the Rain upon the 
Cotton shrub : difference between the Red and Black soils, 32 ; 
Results of the Season of 1841-42, 33 ; Dr. Wight's plan of opera- 
tions : introduction of xlmerican Culture more important than that 
of American Cotton, 33 ; Early trials of the American saw gin, 34 ; 
Second Season, 1842-43 : arrangement of the four Experimental 
Farms, 34 ; Three varieties of land, viz. Black, Red, and Allu- 
vial, 35 ; Distribution of soil amongst the four Earms : method of 
cultivation, 35. 

DR. WIGHT'S NOTES. 

Drill husbandry : land ploughed and cast in ridges, eight or ten inches 
high, at intervals of about five feet, 36 ; Sowing in a furrow of 
about two inches deep along the centre of each ridge, 37 ; Scrap- 
ing out of superfluous plants and weeds, 37 ; Banking up the 
ridges, first with the plough and afterwards with the hoe, 37 ; 
Keeping down extraneous vegetation until the crop ripens, 37 ; 
Native ploughs and American ploughs compared : question of 
whether American Cotton would thrive without ridging, 38. 



Results of the second season on the Black, Red, and Alluvial soils, 
1842-43, 38 ; Comparison of the growth of the Indian, New Or- 
leans, and Bourbon Cotton, 39 ; Reports of English Brokers on 
Dr. Wight's Cotton, 40 ; Oopum (Indian) Cotton, 40 ; New Or- 
leans, 40 ; Bourbon, 40 ; Third season, 1843-44 : state of the Cot- 
Ibn Earms, Gins, and Gin-house, 40 ; Unfavourable results : their 
causes, 41 ; Comparison of the crops of the third season with those 
of the second, 41 ; Fourth season, 1844-45 : experiment of treat 



CONTENTS. 



ing- the plant as a biennial, 42 ; Comparative produce of the four 
seasons, 42 ; General result of the four seasons of the experimental 
Earms : necessity for a rotation of crops, 44 ; Causes of the suc- 
cess of Mr. Wroughton's Cotton experiment, 44 ; 1st, Influence of 
both monsoons, 45 ; 2nd, Early preparation and sowing, 45 ; 
Drought and Grate the only dangers to be avoided, 46 ; Question 
of manure, 46 ; Three advantages possessed by India over America 
in the cultivation of American Cotton, 46 ; Remunerative demand 
alone required in India, 47 ; Cost of cultivation, 47 ; Further pro- 
ceedings of the fourth season, 1844-45, 48 ; Mr. Simpson's report 
on the districts of North Canara, bordering on Dharwar, 49 ; 
Soondah : unfavourable from the presence of " Kunkur," 49 ; 
Soopah: soil favourable butclimate unfavourable, 49; Mr. Simpson's 
opinion on the failure of the Coimbatore Earms to extend the cul- 
ture of American Cotton, 50 ; Recommended the appointment of 
a practical person to distribute seed and exhibit the gins, 50 ; Ap- 
proval of Mr Simpson's suggestions : his transfer to the Bombay 
Presidency, 51 ; Dr. Wight's answers to the queries of the Marquis 
of Tweeddale, 51 ; Superiority of the American Cotton to the Indian, 
51 ; Extension of the improved methods of cultivation among the 
Ryots, 51 ; Reluctance of the Ryots to adopt the saw gin, 52. 



CHAPTER III. 

FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER DR. WIGHT IN 
COIMBATORE, 1845 TO 1849. 

Position of the Cotton experiment in 1845, 55 ; New arrangements, 
55 ; Mr. Morris reports unfavourably of Bellary : his death, 56 ; 
Mr. Finnie reports unfavourably of the Madras district : despatched 
to Tinnevelly, 56 ; Dr. Wight's New Cotton Earms in Coimbatore, 
1845 : four points neglected in the previous experiments, 57 ; Re- 
sults of four successive seasons on a new Earm, 1845-49, 58 ; 
Suggestions of the Manchester Association respecting sowing in 
May and on low soils, 59 ; Dr. Wight's reply : 1st, July is the best 
time for sowing, 60 ; 2nd, Low Alluvial soils had proved a failure, 
but low lands near the Coast were under trial, 60. 

DR. WIGHT'S NOTES. 

Habits of the American Plant, 61 ; Eour seasons of the American 
Plant, 62 ; Adaptation of the habits of the American plant to the 
Indian seasons, 62 ; 1st, Seasons on the eastern side, under the 
north-east monsoon, 62; Monthly mean temperature and mean falls 
of rain in the Carnatic, 63 ; Cotton cultivation under the north-east 
monsoon, sowing in September, 63 ; 2nd, Seasons on the western 
side, under the south-west monsoon, 64; Cotton cultivation under 



CONTENTS. 



the south-west monsoon, sowing in May, 64 ; 3rd, Intermediate re- 
gions under both the north-east and south-west monsoons, 65 ; Cot- 
ton cultivation under both monsoons, sowing in July, 65 ; Large ex- 
periment in early sowing throughout the Cotton Districts in the 
Madras Presidency, 66 ; First Result : India not too hot, but too 
cold, 66 ; Theory confirmed by a comparison of the temperature of 
Madras with that of Vera Cruz, Mobile, and Natchez, 67 ; Rising 
temperature in America, but diminishing temperature in India 
during the growing season, 68 ; Second Result : Carnatic not too 
dry, confirmed by a comparison of mean rain fall, 68 ; Two methods 
of cultivating American Cotton in India : adaptation of seasons, 
and artificial irrigation, 69 ; Experiments in irrigation, securing a 
rising temperature to the growing plant, 70 ; Eive practical sug- 
gestions, 70 ; 1st, Choice of soil, 71 ; 2nd, Preparation of the land 
for the seed, 71 ; 3rd, Ploughing and hoeing during the growing 
season, 71 ; 4th, Distance between the rows, 72 ; 5th, Treatment 
of the plant as an annual and rotation of crops, 72 ; Profitable culti- 
vation of American Cotton throughout the Peninsula, 72. 

Plans for extending the American Cotton Culture amongst the Ryots, 
1845-49, 73 ; Court of Directors order 6000 bales of East India'Cot- 
ton, 1845, 73 ; Proposition for reducingthe assessment of lands under 
American Cotton cultivation, 74; Marquis of Tweeddale in favour of 
the remission, 75 ; Court of Directors decide against the remission, 
75 ; Eailure of the purchase system as regarded American Cotton, 18 48, 
7 6 ; Contemplated establishment of a number of small Earms, 77. 

CHAPTER IV. 

FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER, MR. EINNIE IN 
TINNEVELLY, 1845 TO 1849. 

Labours of Mr. Einnie and Dr. "Wight compared, 80 ; Eirst season, 
1845-46 : Mr. Einnie's first impressions of Tinnevelly, 81 ; Sug- 
gestion, that by acting as a Cotton Agent, he could induce the Ryots 
to adopt the new culture, 82 ; An Agency would also increase the 
profits of both Ryots and Merchants, and double the exports, 82 ; 
Nothing however would induce the Ryots to adopt the American 
saw gin, 83 ; The thresher recommended, 84 ; Three points in the 
career of Mr. Einnie : the New Orleans Cotton, the Agency, and 
the saw gin, 85 ; Cultivation of Cotton : tour to Courtallum under 
both monsoons, June, 1846, 85 ; Necessity for co-operation of the 
Natives : employment of hired labour by the European always a 
loss, 85 ; Eirst intercourse with the Ryots : allays fears and sus- 
picions, 86; Explains the improved method of culture to the 
Ryots, 86 ; Mr Einnie's tour from Courtallum to Coimbatore, J uly, 



CONTENTS. 



1846, 87 ; Preparations for assisting Dr Wight in completing the 
Court's order for 6000 bales, 87 ; Mr Pinnie permitted to act as 
Agent : restricted to Cotton ginned and prepared on the American 
principle, August, 87 ; Restriction removed, 88 ; Mr Pinnie's 
first year's proceedings with the churka, thresher, and gin, 88 ; 
Queries submitted to Mr. Pinnie by the Marquis of Tweeddale, 89. 

mu. finnie's notes on cotton, cultivation. 

Early cultivation of Cotton in America : compared with the present 
cultivation in India, 90 ; Climate discovered to be of more im- 
portance than soil, 91 ; Nature of the lands in America on which 
the American plant is grown, 92 ; Manure, consisting of old stalks 
and rotten seed, buried in a furrow between the rows, 92 ; Cli- 
mate : very humid at night, but hot in the day, 92 ; Rotation of 
crops : alternation with Indian corn occasionally necessary, 93 ; 
Capital required in American cultivation, 93 ; Successive opera- 
tions necessary to raise a crop : cleaning old land and clearing 
new, 93 ; Planting, 94 ; " Scraping " or hoeing, 95 ; Gathering, 
95 ; Uncertainty of weather : average crops, 96 ; Expenses of 
Cotton cultivation ■ produce estimated, not at so much per acre, 
but at four to eight bales per Negro, 97 ; Machinery, gin-house, 
gins, press, and driving machinery, 98 ; Price of land : fluctuates 
with the price of Cotton, 99 ; Minimum price at which American 
Cotton could be produced, four pence per pound, 99 ; Prospects 
of India : labour in America and India compared, 100 ; Reduction 
of the Indian land-tax on Cotton grounds would neither benefit the 
Ryot nor extend the culture, 100. 

Mr. Pinnie's second season, 1846-47 : planting operations succeeded 
at Courtallum but failed at Sevacausey, 101 ; Mr. Pinnie is dis- 
appointed as an Agent : proposal to employ Government Punds, 
102 ; Mr. Pinnie's second year's operations with the churka, 
thresher, and gin, 103 ; Sale of two gins to neighbouring Zemin- 
dars : their failure, 103 ; Cotton brokers rather than Zemindars 
should be induced to adopt the gin, 104 ; Mr. Pinnie's proposals 
for erecting a gin-house and cattle driving machinery in Tinne- 
velly, 104 ; Purchase of cattle driving machinery sanctioned, re- 
lative cost of cattle labour and manual labour, 105 ; Change in 
Mr. Pinnie's views as regards the cattle driving machinery, 105 ; 
Mr. Pinnie's explanation of his apparent inconsistencies, 106 ; Mr. 
Pinnie's general objections to the gin discussed by Dr. Wight, 
108 ; Mr. Pinnie's proposition for erecting a gin-house of two 
storeys : the lower one for the driving machinery, and the upper 
one for the gins, 109 ; Hire of a temporary gin-house at Aroo- 
poocottah, 110 ; Erection of three gins and a thresher : their effect 
upon the Natives, 111 ; Testimony of the Brokers that dirty 
Cotton was more profitable than clean Cotton, 111. 



CONTENTS. 



ME. EINNIE's NOTES ON THE INDIAN COTTON TRADE. 

Systematic alteration of Indian Cotton : transactions between the 
Ryots, the Brokers the Chitties, and the European Agent, 112: 
Ihe ; Ryot : improvident and helplessly in debt, 113 ; The Broker 
adulteration of the Cotton by the " Devil's dust " system, 113 ; The 
Untty : tricks played upon the European Agents, 114. 

Conclusion of the season of*1846-47 : difficulties in the way of con- 
ducting the ginning operations at Aroopoocottah, 115 ; 1st, High 
prices demanded by the Ryots for their seed Cotton, 116 • 2nd 
Heavy expenses of ginning, 116 ; Necessity for improving the 
construction of the gin^ 118 ; Third season, 1847-48 : stage of the 
Cotton experiment in Tmnevelly, 119 ; Planting operation : suc- 
cessful culture of American Cotton in the Courtallum valley, 119 • 
Unsuccessful culture at Sevacausey, Virdooputty, and Aroopoocot- 
' j i Agency operations : Mr. Finnie requests permission to 
proceed to England to consult with the Cotton Manufacturers 120 • 
Operations with the churka, thresher, and gin: meeting of the 
Cotton brokers of Tmnevelly, 121 ; Cost of cleaning with the 
thresher and churka as compared with that of the gin, 121 ; Cost 
at which clean unadulterated Cotton might be supplied, 122 ; Re- 
commends the mtroduction of small hand threshers and cheap 
presses, 122 ; SmaU hand threshers and presses sanctioned, ]23 ; 
Mr Ihomas believed that Cotton was not adulterated by design, and 
that good Cotton was often sent home, 123 ; No market or Agency 
required m Tmnevelly, 124; Cultivation of New Orleans Cotton 
and improved cleaning, the main points, 124; Mr. Finnie's design 
for a cheap Cotton press, 124 ; Mr. Finnie's sample of churkaed 
rte? 7 w , Am ™™> 125 ; Madras Government 

fW !if vF^t ?™ W $ h V he Cham *>erof Commerce, and the 
U T reCt0r fi' -. 27 L- D u r - m ^t's report, Mr. Finnie's sample 

07 g r Tm f Vdly ' whloh no one could mis take for American 
rfli! shipment of churkaed Cotton contrary to the orders 

witt, + W re ? m S) I 28 i ^ Wi 8 ht ' s s ? stem of P urchas e compared 

fi™ ft w-^ 1 ^ 6 ' 129 ; Madras Chambe)! of Commerce con- 
firm Dr Wight's valuation of Mr. Finnie's Cotton, 129 • Man- 

fW?™ C 1 ° ram % CIal Association pass a similar judgment upon the 
Cotton, loO ; Fourth season, 1848-49 ; proposed extension of 
Planting operations, 130; Mr. Finnie's matured judgment against 
the culture of American Cotton or use of the American gin, 132 • 
Pronounces m favour of the Indigenous Cotton and Native churka,' 
432 ; Native Cotton should be first threshed, next churkaed, and 
finally cleaned by hand, 133; Erection of Air. Finnie's gin-house 
2it»Z 8 r°} merj a * 8ev ^y. 133; Relative cost of the 
22«ini e t > ^. a ^ cattle gin, 135; Mr. Finnie refused 
permission to extend his operations to Coimbatore, 135. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER V, 

DISPUTES BETWEEN DR. WIGHT AND MR. PINNIE, DISCUSSIONS OF 
THE MADRAS GOVERNMENT AND COURT OP DIRECTORS, AND 
FINAL CLOSE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE, 1847 TO 1853. 

Marquis of Tweeddale succeeded by Sir Henry Pottiuger : breach 
between Dr. Wight and Mr. Pinnie, 139 ; Mr. Pinnie convinced i 
of the folly of cultivating American Cotton in India : Dr. Wight 
recommends his removal, 141 ; Points of the dispute : summary 
of the correspondence, 142 ; Mr. Pinnie to Dr. Wight, 7th No- 
vember, 1848 : " I have had great difficulties in ginning, but have 
induced many Natives to plant American Cotton/ 5 143 ; Dr. 
Wight to Mr. Pinnie, 15th November : " Your purchase of Chur-, 
kaed Cotton is illegal, your culture of American Cotton unsatis- 
factory, and your ginning too expensive," 144 ; Mr. Pinnie to Dr. 
Wight, 18th December : " My plans have all been approved by the 
authorities," 145 ; Dr. Wight's explanations, 30th January, 1849, 
147 ; General opinions of the Madras Government and Court of 
Directors upon the Experimental Culture, 149 ; Minute of the : 
Marquis of Tweeddale in 1847 : 1st, To relinquish the Experi-; 
mental Parm in Coimbatore, 149 ; 2nd, To establish small model* 
fields, under a practical Agency, amongst the native cultivators, 
151 ; 3rd, To set up small gin establishments, and to keep up, 
good roads to the ports, 151 ; Limits to Government agency : the 
Manufacturer should purchase direct from the Ryot, 152. 

VIEWS OF THE COURT OF DIRECTORS. 

Despatch of the Court of Directors, 1848, 153 ; 1st, The Cotton ; 
farm at Coimbatore may be relinquished: it has been proved that 
the right Cotton can be grown, and the price alone remains to be 
ascertained, 154 ; 2nd, " Agency confined to practical planters" 
may be tried on a small scale, 154. 

VIEWS OF SIR HENRY POTTINGER. 

Minute of Sir Henry Pottinger, May, 1849, 155 ; The experimental 
Parms have been fully tried, and their continuance would be in- 
jurious, 156 ; American Cotton in any part of the Madras Presi-i 
dency liable to failure, 156 ; Causes of the failure of American? 
Cotton: climate and soil, 157; Dr. Wight ascribes the failure in 
Coimbatore to the want of humidity, but humidity does not mean 
rain, 157 ; The Ryots should now be left to themselves, with such aid 
as the Revenue Establishments may give, 158 ; Mr. Pinnie to remain! 
in Tinnevelly till October, to instruct the East Indian lads in the 
use of the gins, etc-, 158; Dr. Wight should break up his estab- 
lishment in Coimbatore immediately, 159 ; Gin-houses at Coimba- 



CONTENTS. 



tore and Aroopoocottah to be placed under the Collectors for the use 
of the Ryots, 159 ; Unfounded complaint of the Manchester Asso- 
ciation : the Manchester merchants ought to help themselves, 159. 

State of Dr. Wight's Farm at Coimbatore, May, 1849 : 500 acres 
held by lease and 200 acres worked by contract, 160 ; Application 
of Dr. Wight to be permitted to sow and gather one crop more : 
r refused, June, 161 ; Departure of Mr. Einnie from the Madras 
\ Presidency, 163 ; Mr. Einnie's last letter, July, 1849 : — The gins 
j will always remain idle after Government ceases to use them, 163 ; 
- Decision of the Madras Government as regards Dr. Wight, re- 
versed by the Court of Directors, September, 164 ; Dr. Wight's 
j services to be retained : Mr. Einnie's dispensed with, 166 ; State 
of the Farms at Coimbatore, 167 ; Dr. Wight cultivates American 
Cotton by irrigation, 167 ; Postponement of Dr. Wight's Cotton 
Report, 167 ; 1st, Mather's improved Churka, 168 ; 2nd, The 
; Manchester Cottage saw gin, 169 ; Twenty-four Cottage saw gins 
3 received by the Madras Government, 1849, 169 ; Report of the 
Madras Chamber of Commerce ; the working of the Cottage 
\ saw gin unsatisfactory, 170 ; Expense of the Cottage saw gin 
5 an insuperable bar to its employment in India, 170; Dr. Wight 
.j reports favourably of the Cottage saw gin, 170; Prices of the 
. Cottage saw gin to Natives and Europeans, 171 ; Favourable re- 
port of the Collector of Tanjore : subsequently reversed, 171 ; 
J, Eavourable reports on the Dharwar saw gin, 171 ; Dr. Wight 
9 compares the working of the Dharwar gin, the Manchester Cottage 
gin, and the large hand gin, 172 ; Relative cost of labour on the 
Churka, the Manchester Cottage gin, and the large hand gins, 
173 ; Three years' progress in the Cotton experiment, 1850-52, 
ii 174 ; Colonel Lawford's cultivation by irrigation in Tanjore, 174 ; 
: Mr. Wroughton's Collectorate Earm at Coimbatore, 175 ; Mr. 
s Thomas's opinions upon the best method of inducing the Ryots to 
cultivate American Cotton, 176 ; Cotton cultivation by Mr. David 
Lees in Tinnevelly : discussion concerning the right of Chayroot 
renters, 177; Discussion respecting the purchase of American 
Cotton on Government account from the Ryots of Tinnevelly, 178 ; 
» Authoritv for the purchases refused by the Madras Government, 
■ 179 ; Completion of Dr. Wight's report, May, 1852, 179. 

j DR. WIGHT'S FINAL REPORT. 

L Stage of the Cotton experiment in 1849, 180; Improved prospects 

. i during 1850-51 and 1851-52, 180 ; Previous reluctance of the 

I Ryots to cultivate American Cotton connected with the existence 

i i of the Cotton Earms, 181 ; Ryots encouraged by their own success 

1 5 to extend the cultivation, 181 ; Large results in 1850-51 and 1851- 

. • 52, 182; Ryots adopt Dr. Wight's practice, 182; Refutation of 

,u the theory that the climate and soil of India are unfitted for 



CONTENTS. 



American Cotton, 183 ; 1st, The theory is founded on the as- 
sumption that Indian Cotton has succeeded when the American has 
failed, 183 ; 2nd, The theory is based upon a comparison of crops 
grown in India, and of crops grown on the Mississippi, instead of 
those grown in Georgia, 183 ; Differences between India and the 
Mississippi do not prove that the soil of India is inimical to 
American Cotton, 184 ; Soil of Southern India better compared 
with that of Georgia, 184 ; Climate of Southern India not so 
congenial as that of Georgia : evil obviated by sowing in August 
or September, 185 ; Leading principles of Cotton culture in the 
Carnatic : sowing before the north-east monsoon, and selection of 
soil, 185 ; Objection of native spinners to the soft silky fibre of 
the New Orleans Cotton, 186 ; Difficulty of separating the seed, and 
prejudice against the seed as food for cattle, 186 ; Nothing want- 
ed to secure a rapid extension of the American Cotton culture, 
but a steady market and a moderate competition, 187 ; Cotton 
cultivation on the Coromandel coast : New Orleans, Sea Island, 
Egyptian, and Brazilian, 187 ; Partial success of Mr. David Lees 
on the sandy coast lands of Tinnevelly : error as regards deep 
sowing, 188; Sandy soils along the Coromandel coast adapted to 
the cultivation of American Cotton, 188. 

Sir Henry Pottinger's Government condemns Dr. Wight's report, 
189; Recommends, that as the Farms had proved injurious, 
and that as the Agency was no longer necessary, all Govern- 
ment intervention should be withdrawn, 190 ; Dr. Wight's pro- 
test against the conclusions of the Madras Government, 190; 
1st, The Government Parms had not proved injurious, but the 
groundless suspicions of the Ryots, 190; 2nd, The Government 
Agency had not proved unnecessary, as it removed the sus- 
picions of the Ryots, 191; Retirement of Dr. Wight: Pinal De- 
spatch of the Court of Directors 1853, 192. 



CHAPTER Yl. 

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE COTTON CULTURE IN THE SEVERAL 
DISTRICTS OF THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY, 1853 TO 1862. 

Stage of the Cotton experiment, 1853-62, 195 ; Survey of the present 
Cotton cultivation in the Madras Presidency, 196 ; 1st, Northern 
Circars, four Districts, 196 ; (1) Ganjam : produce inconsider- 
able, but easily increased by money advances, 196; (2) Vizagapatam : 
Cotton grown insufficient for home consumption and not remuner- 
ative, 197 ; (3) Godavari : Cotton supply larger, but insufficient 
for the wants of the District, 197 ; (4) Kristna : large Cotton 



CONTENTS. 



supply, 198 ; 2nd, Eastern plain op the Carnatic : eight 
Districts, 199 ; (1) Nellore : a grazing District, 199*, (2) Madras : 
Native Cotton not grown, 199 ; Experiments in Foreign Cotton : 
Mr. Shubrick's successful cultivation of the Egyptian variety, 200 ; 
Experimental culture of the Brazil or Pernambuco variety by Dr. 
Mudge, 200 ; (3) North Arcot : Red soil, and consequently no 
Indian Cotton, 202 ; (4) South Arcot : inconsiderable quantity of 
Indian Cotton, 202 ; (5) Trichinopoly : quantity of Cotton in- 
considerable : mode of cultivation, 202 ; (6) Tanjore : Soil not fa- 
vourable without irrigation, and with irrigation the cultivation of 
rice is preferred, 203 ; (7) Madura : detailed report from the Col- 
lector, 204 ; Soil, 204 ; Geology and topography, 204 ; Climate, 
205 ; Seed used and whence obtained, 205 ; Character of the 
Cotton plant, 205 ; Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight 
of Cotton wool per acre, 205 ; Manure, 206 ; Diseases, 206 ; (8) 
Tinnevelly : Mr. Mayne's detailed report, 206 ; Soil, 207 ; 1st, The 
Caresal, or Black soil ; 207 ; 2nd, The Veppel, or Black and Sandy 
soil, 207 ; 3rd, The Pottel, or stiff clayey soil, 207 ; 4th, The Shevei, 
or Bed soil, 208; Geology and topography, 208; Climate, 208; Seed 
used and whence obtained, 210; Character of the Cotton plant, 210 ; 
Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of Cotton wool per 
acre, etc., 210 ; Manure, 210 ; Diseases, 210 ; Mr. Silver's Report, 
211 j Queries of Sir William Denison, with Mr, Silver's replies, 
211 ; Letter from Mr. Hardy, European Agent at Tuticorin, 214; 
3rd, Central Table-land : five Districts, 215 ; (1) Bellary : detail- 
ed report from the Collector, 215 ; Soil, 215 ; Geology and topo- 
graphy, 216 ; Climate, 217; Seed used and whence obtained, 217 ; 
Nature and character of the Cotton, 217 ; Method of cultivation, 
time of flowering, and weight of Cotton wool per acre, etc., 217 ; 
Manure, 219 ; Diseases, 219 ; (2) Kurnool : a Cotton growing 
District, 219 ; Cost of transit : the sole obstacle to increased pro- 
duction, 219 ; Improvements in the quality must be effected by 
the Merchants themselves, 220 ; (3) Cuddapah : present state of 
Cotton as reported by Mr. Wedderburn the Collector, 220 ; De- 
tailed report by Mr. Murray, the previous Collector, 221 ; Soil, 
221; Weeds, 221 ; Geology' and topography, 222 ; Climate, 223 ; 
Seed used and whence obtained, 224 ; Character of the Cotton 
plant, 224. ; Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of Cot- 
ton wool per acre, etc., 224 ; Manure, 224 ; Diseases, 225 ; (4) 
Salem ; Messrs. Eischer and Co., the only exporters, 225 ; (5) 
Coimbatore : detailed report of Mr. Thomas, the Collector, 225 ; 
Soil : Black, Red, and Alluvium, 225 ; Geology and topography, 
! ,- 226; Climate, 227; Seed used and whence obtained, 228 ; Cha- 
racter of the Cotton plant, 228 ; Mode of cultivation, time of 
flowering, weight of Cotton wool per acre, etc., 229 ; Manure, 231 ; 
: Diseases, 231 ; 4th, Western strip or Malabar coast : three 



CONTENTS. 

districts, 232 ; (1) North Canara : not a Cotton producing Dis- 
trict 232 ; Report of the District Engineer on the experimental 
culture of Mr. Kleinknecht, 233; (2) South Canara: not a Cot- 
ton producing District, 234; (3) Malabar: not a Cotton pro- 
ducing District, 234; Native States : Mysore, Cochin, and Tra- 
vancore, 234. 



Conclusion: general results, 234; Four general conclusions, 23d ; 
1st, American Cotton can be grown, but the profit is questionable, 

235 ; 2nd, Indian Cotton may be improved, but only to a degree, 

236 • 3rd, American Cotton must always command a higher price 
than Indian, 237 ; 4th 5 The demand for Indian Cotton must always 
depend upon the supply of American, 237 ; Political and commer- 
cial prospects of Indian Cotton, 237. 



APPENDIX. 



Appendix I. 

II. 
III. 
IV. 
Y. 
VI. 
VII. 

Index 



PAGE 

i 

x 
xii 
xiv 
xxvii 
xxxi 
xxxiv 

lii 



i 

2 

i 

7 

i 





COTTON CULTIVATION 

IN" THE 

MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 



CHAPTEE I. 



GENERAL YIEW OE THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY, AND OE THE 
IMPROYEMENTS REQUIRED IN INDIAN" COTTON. 

(1.) Hand-book to the Cotton Cultivation of each Presidency ordered 
by the Government of India, 22nd July, 1861. — (2.) Method pursued in 
drawing up the present Hand-book to the Madras Presidency, 28th Au- 
gust. — (3.) Three objects sought by the East India Company with reference 
to Cotton. — (4.) Boundaries of the Madras Presidency. — (5.) Physical 
features of the country. — (6.) Three modifications of the tropical heat, 
viz. the table-land, the sea, and the two monsoons. — (7.) North-east 
monsoon, October to April: South-west monsoon, May to September. — 
(8.) Climate of the Madras Presidency and Cotton States of North Ame- 
rica compared : reversal of the seasons. — (9.) Revenue divisions of the Ma- 
dras Presidency. — (10.) Revenue systems of the Madras Presidency : based 
upon the Village communities. — (11.) Three Revenue systems: First, 
the Village joint rent system. — (12.) Second, the Zemindary system. — 
(13.) Third, the Ryotwary system. — (14.) Advantages of the Ryotwary 
tenure over the Zemindary and Village joint rent systems. — (15.) Revenue 
division of lands : Government, Zemindary, and Inam. — (16.) Nature and 
extent of the Cotton soils of India. — (17.) Four great Cotton districts: 
Bellary and Cuddapah to the North; Coimbatore and Tinnevelly to the 
South. — (18.) Statistics of the Cotton-growing districts. — (19.) Review of 
^the three improvements required in Indian Cotton. — (20.) First, Better 
' variety of Cotton required : general classification of Indian and American 
Cottons. — (21.) Six leading varieties of Cotton, viz. Indian, Bourbon, 
New Orleans, Pernambuco, Egyptian, and Sea Island. — (22.) Indian, 
Bourbon, and New Orleans Cotton compared. — (23.) Second, Better sys- 
tem of cultivation required : Indian and American agriculture compared. 
— (24.) Third, Better method of separating and cleaning the Cotton re- 
quired : the Foot Roller.— (25.) The Native Churka.— (26.) The American 
Saw Gin.— (27.) The Thresher.— (28.) Division of the subject matter in 
[ the present Hand-book. — (29.) Twelve years of Cotton experiments divi- 
sible into three periods of lour years each. — (30.) Specialities of the 
several Chapters. 

B 



2 COTTON IN THE MA.DEAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I. 



CHAP. I. 

1 Hand-book to the Cotton Cultivation of each Pre- 
sidency ordered by the Government of India, 22nd 
July, 1861. — In July, 1861, the Go vernor- General in 
Council resolved, that one gentleman should be ap- 
pointed in each of the Indian Presidencies to analyze 
the contents of the various public records connected 
with the improvement and extension of the cultivation 
of Cotton in his particular Province, and to publish the 
results in such a form as might prove useful as a Guide 
or Hand-book to persons interested in the subject. 
The compiler however was not to be limited to the 
public records of his Presidency. Evidence taken be- 
fore Parliamentary Committees, Transactions of Scien- 
tific Bodies, Books of Travels, Special Publications like 
those of Dr. Forbes Eoyle, and indeed any work which 
referred to the prospects of Cotton cultivation within the 
Province for which the compilation was made, might be 
consulted by the compiler, and the facts they contained 
be exhibited with the other facts comprised in the pub- 
lic records. The Local Officers of Land Eevenue or 
Customs were also called upon to supply official statis- 
tics of trade or cultivation, as well as any other in- 
formation which might be at their disposal; Maps 
were to be prepared by the Public Works Department ; 
and in short no labour or means were to be spared that 
were calculated to render each work a complete Hand- 
book to the Cotton cultivation in each Presidency. 
Above all however it was declared to be essential that 
the task should be completed with as little delay as 
possible ; and upon this point the Supreme Government 
remarked that " an imperfect compilation, which could 
be available within the next six months, would be far 
more useful than one which thoroughly exhausted the 
subject, but which could not be published till a year 
hence." 

2 Method pursued in drawing up the present Hand- 
book to the Madras Presidency, 28th August. — By an 



CHAP. I.] GENERAL VIEW. GEOGRAPHY. 



3 



order of the Madras Government, dated 28th August, 
1861, the present compiler was directed to undertake 
the work required by the Government of India. Every 
facility indicated was fully afforded, and the task was 
commenced without delay. Fortunately, the great 
mass of official records relating to the experiments un- 
dertaken by Government had been already published in 
the form of Reports and Blue-books ; and the principal 
manuscript records to be consulted were those which 
had accumulated after the departure of Dr. Wight from 
India in 1853. The published records are as follows : — 

Reports connected with the Proceedings of the East 
India Company in regard to the Culture and Ma- 
nufacture of Cotton work prior to 1836. Octavo. 
Pages 431. 

Parliamentary Return of Papers, connected with the 
Measures taken by the Company to promote the 
cultivation of Cotton in India, 1836— 1847. Folio. 
Pages 535. 

Ditto, with reference to the Madras Presidency only, 
1847—1857. Polio. Pases 419. 

Report from the Select Parliamentary Committee on 
the growth of Cotton in India ; together with the 
Minutes of Evidence, &c, 1848. Polio. Pages 615. 

Accordingly, it has been found necessary, in the first 
instance, to make an abstract of all the papers contain- 
ed in the first three of the foregoing publications, for the 
purposes of digestion and classification ; and then, by 
means of this abstract, together with a constant and 
careful verification of the original documents, to en- 
deavour to draw up a narrative of all the experiments 
; which have been made by the East India Company, 
, with reference to this all-important subject, illustrated 
; by such other information as could be obtained from 
the different sources, manuscript and otherwise, which 
were indicated by the Supreme Government ; and ex- 
hibiting, in as clear and succinct a form as could be 
attained, all the results that were likely to be of interest 
or utility to persons engaged in similar inquiries or 
speculations. 

b2 



COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I. 

3 Three objects sought by the East India Compan 
with reference to Cotton.— The improvements whic 
the East India Company have desired from an early 
period to introduce into India are three in number, 
viz. : — 

1st, A better variety of Cotton. 

2nd, A better system of cultivation. 

3rd, A better method of separating the staple from the 
seed, and of cleaning it for the European markets. 

One or other of these objects will appear in almost 
every paragraph of the present Hand-book. Before, 
however, endeavouring to exhibit the experiments which 
have been made and the results which have been 
achieved in the Madras Presidency, it will be necessary, 
first, to glance at the specialities of the country ; and, 
secondly, to unfold more minutely the nature of the 
objects which the late Company have sought to attain. 

4 Boundaries of the Madras Presidency. — The Madras 
Presidency may be described as an irregular triangle, 
occupying the whole southern quarter of the great In- 
dian peninsula. Its western side is formed by the 
coast of Malabar ; its eastern side by the coast of 
Coromandel ; its apex by Cape Comorin ; whilst its 
base may be indicated by the river Kristna. In ad- 
dition to this triangle, however, the Presidency stretches 
out a long narrow arm on its north-eastern corner along 
the coast of the Bay of Bengal. This arm is known 
as the Northern Circars, and connects the Presidency 
of Madras with that of Bengal. Its existence on the 
map occasions that large blank to the northward of the 
Kristna, which is partly occupied by the dominions of 
the Nizam, and partly by the wild inhabitants of an 
unhealthy tract of hill country which is still only half 
explored. 

5 Physical features of the country. — The Madras Pre- 
sidency may be said to consist of a table-land sloping 
from west to east and from south to north, and sup- 
ported on either side by a chain of mountains, known 
respectively as the Eastern and "Western Ghauts. Each 
chain runs parallel with the coast on either side. The 
Eastern Grhauts rise at a distance of from 30 to 60 



CHAP. I.] GENERAL VIEW. GEOGRAPHY. 



5 



miles from the Coromandel coast, and leave the large 
irregularly level, and generally sandy plain of the Car- 
natic between themselves and the Bay of Bengal. The 
"Western Ghauts rise much more abruptly and to a 
much greater height on the Malabar coast, and leave a 
much narrower strip of land between themselves and 
the Indian ocean. The two chains running north to 

< south gradually unite at Cape Comorin. Thus the 
Madras Presidency consists of a large triangular table- 

: land, sloping away from the great western wall to what 
, may be called the eastern mounds ; and from the south- 
l ern territory of Mysore, which has a medium elevation 
i of 3000 feet, to the northern districts of Bellary and 
, Cuddapah, w-here the mean height is 1600 feet. East 
, of the table-land is the broad sandy plain of the Car- 
i natic ; west of the table land is the narrow fertile ter- 
ritory known as Canara and Malabar, 
i Three modifications of the tropical heat, viz. the 6 
, table-land, the sea, and the two monsoons. — The whole 
. of the Madras Presidency is situated within the tropics, 
t between the eighth and twentieth degrees of north 
i latitude. The entire territory therefore is subject to 
t great heat, and this is especially the case in localities 
. which are unrelieved by moisture. But the elevation 
8 of the table-land in the centre, the vicinity of the plains 

< to the sea, and, above all, the influence of the two mon- 
i soons, very much modify the burning heat of the sun. 

I North-east monsoon, October to April : South-west 7 
s monsoon, May to September. — The manifestations of 
) the monsoons are so unlike anything that is experienced 
I in the British isles, and at the same time they exercise 
i such an important influence on every kind of cultiva- 
I tion in India, that perhaps a short description may not 
be misplaced. The monsoons are periodical winds, 
which about the time of their first setting in bring 
j heavy bursts of rain. One sets in from the north-east 
i about October, and blows more or less steadily for six 
i months. The other sets in from the south- w 7 est about 
I April, and blows until the north-east begins. Thus 
the broad plain of the Carnatic enjoys the influence of 
the north-east monsoon ; the narrow strip of Malabar 



6 COTTON 1ST THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I, 

and Canara is favoured by the south-west monsoon; 
whilst certain portions of the table-land between them 
enjoy a partial benefit from both monsoons. Each of 
these monsoons brings a supply of rain. The north- 
east brings less water than the other, but then its in- 
fluence is more generally felt, as the Eastern Ghauts 
are not sufficiently elevated to shut it out from the 
central table-land. Not so however with the south- 
west monsoon. That comes laden with a mass of 
waters from the Southern ocean, and pours a heavy 
torrent of rain upon the Western Ghauts ; but its in- 
fluence is more or less shut out from the central table- 
land by the abrupt and elevated wall of mountains. In 
two or three favoured localities, however, and especially 
in the neighbourhood of Coimbatore, there are breaks 
or chasms in the Ghauts, through which the clouds are 
carried by the south-west wind, and produce a fertility 
which is not to be found in regions which only enjoy 
the benefit of the north-east monsoon. The bearing 
of these influences upon the cultivation of Cotton will 
be found largely illustrated in the following pages. 

8 Climate of the Madras Presidency and Cotton States 
of North America compared : reversal of seasons. — 
Before noticing the other local peculiarities of the 
Madras Presidency, it may be as well to compare the 
climate generally with that of the Cotton States of 
North America. We have seen that every part of the 
Presidency lies to the southward of the twentieth degree 
north latitude ; and we may now add that all the Cotton 
States of America lie to the northward of that degree, 
and indeed to the northward of the thirtieth parallel. 
This difference of latitude is obviated by a reversal of 
the seasons, the winter of India being taken as the 
summer of the Cotton cultivation. In other words, 
whilst in America the Cotton is sown in April and 
gathered in September, in India it is sown in October 
and gathered in March and April. A further com- 
parison of the results of this reversal of the seasons 
will be found further on. 

9 Revenue Divisions of the Madras Presidency. — The 
Madras Presidency is divided, for the purposes of col- 



CHAP. I.] GENERAL YTEW. REVENUE. 



7 



lecting the Revenue, into twenty Districts, each of 
which is under the charge of a Revenue Collector. 
These twenty Districts may be classified, in accordance 
with the physical division already indicated, in the 
following manner. 

1st. Northern Circars, four districts: viz. — (1) 
Ganjam, (2) Vizagapatam, (3) Grodavari, (4) Kristna.* 

2nd. Eastern Plain of the Carnatic, eight dis- 
tricts : viz. — (1) Nellore, (2) Madras, (3) North Arcot, 

(4) South Arcot, (5) Trichinopoly, (6) Tanjore, (7) 
Madura, (8) Tinnevelly. 

3rd. Central Table-land, five districts: viz. — 
(1) Bellary, (2) Kurnool, (3) Cuddapah, (4) Salem, 

(5) Coimbatore. 

4th. Western Strip, three districts: viz. — (1) 
North Canara, (2) South Canara, (3) Malabar. 

In addition to these Collectorates, there are certain 
Native States which are dependent upon Great Britain : 
viz. — Mysore in the Central Table-land, and Travancore 
and Cochin in the south-west corner of the Peninsula. 
For the sake of clearness a small sketch map is ap- 
pended, exhibiting generally the frontiers of all the Re- 
venue Districts and Native States included in the Ma- 
dras Presidency. 

Revenue systems of the Madras Presidency : based 10 
upon the Village Communities. — In order to obtain a 
general idea of the Eevenue systems which prevail, not 
only in the Madras Presidency but throughout the 
whole Peninsula of India, it may be necessary to remark 
that the entire country consists of an almost endless 
number of village communities, or, what we should per- 

* Previous to the last two years the present districts of the Godavari 
and Kristna formed the three districts of Rajahmundry, Masulipatam, 
and Guntoor. The new arrangement was found convenient for many 
reasons, but chiefly as it kept the district watered by the river Goda- 
vari, distinct from the district watered by the river Kristna. Ac- 
cordingly, the whole of Rajahmundry and part of Masulipatam were 
formed into the Godavari district ; and the remaining portion of Ma- 
sulipatam and the whole of Guntoor were formed into the Kristna 
district. The frequent use of the old names leads to some confusion, 
which may be generally avoided by regarding Eajahmundry as 
Godavari, and Masulipatam and Guntoor as Kristna. 



8 COTTON IN THE MA DBAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I. 

haps call "parishes." Each village comprises not only 
houses and families, but cultivated lands and waste 
lands. Each village has also an organization and go- 
vernment of its own. Of course the bulk of each vil- 
lage community is composed of Ryots, or landholders ; 
but each village has also its own officers and artisans. 
Eirst of all there is the Head man, whose duties origin- 
ally were to pay the yearly land tax or tribute to Go- 
vernment for the entire village ; and who also, in con- 
junction with the villagers in council, allotted the lands 
for cultivation, apportioned the yearly contribution each 
one was to pay towards the Government demand, set- 
tled all disputes, and performed other Municipal duties, 
which need not be specified. The latter duties, and in 
some cases the former duties, are still performed by the 
Head man of the village, but this will be explained 
hereafter. Next to the Head man is generally the 
Accountant, who keeps the village records and accounts ; 
the Watchman, who guards the boundaries and watches 
the crops ; the Money-changer, the Priest, the Astro- 
loger, the Smith, the Carpenter, the Barber, the Potter, 
and the Leather- worker ; and in many cases there is 
also the Tailor, Washerman, Physician, Musician, Min- 
strel (or genealogist) ; and, at any rate in the south, 
there is generally the Dancing-girl. These village 
officers and artisans are remunerated for their services 
by grants of land rent-free, and by fees contributed by 
the Ryots, sometimes in money, but more frequently in 
grain. These villages have existed from time imme- 
morial. They are essentially Hindoo institutions. To 
use the words of Sir Charles Met calf, " the village com- 
munities are little republics, having nearly everything 
they can want within themselves, and almost independ- 
ent of any foreign relations. They seem to last where 
nothing else lasts. Dynasty after dynasty tumbles 
down ; revolution succeeds to revolution ; Hindoo, 
Patan, Mogul, Mahratta, Sikh, English, are all masters 
in turn ; but the village community remains the same.'* I 
11 Three Revenue systems : 1st, the Village joint rent 
system. — By bearing in mind the village communities, | 
it is easy to obtain a general view of the Eevenue sys- j 



CHAP. I.] GENERAL VIEW. BEVEOTE. 



9 



terns which prevail in the Madras Presidency. First of 
all we have the relic of ancient times, the village joint- 
rent system ; in which the inhabitants of each village 
still pay through their Head man to the Collector of the 
District, a yearly lump tax for the whole of their lands ; 
and then they are left to allot to each one of their 
number, the lands he is to cultivate, and the yearly 
contribution he is to pay. The defect in the village 
joint- rent system is, that each villager is responsible 
not only for the payment of his own contribution, but 
virtually for the payment of the contributions of all the 
others ; whilst at the same time there is no clear de- 
finition of his individual right to the land which he 
cultivates and holds. 

2nd, The Zemindary system. — This system may also 12 
be explained in a few words. A set of middle-men, or 
aristocracy, arose between the Sovereign and the Head 
men of the villages, known by the general name of Ze- 
mindars. Some had received villages as rewards for 
services ; others were simply farmers of the revenue ; 
others again may have obtained villages in return for 
supplies of troops, or by chicanery or force during the 
dark days of a declining dynasty; whilst some were 
undoubtedly descendants of old feudal chiefs and barons, 
who had held possession of the villages from time imme- 
morial. Be this as it may, we found all the Zemindars 
exercising proprietary rights, and paying a fixed annual 
sum to the existing Government. Accordingly, this 
Zemindary system has, in many parts, still continued to 
exist under British rule. The objections to it are that 
the Zemindar's profits swallow up from 15 to 33 per 
cent, of the revenue derived from the lands under culti- 
vation, as well as the whole of any future revenue which 
may arise from the waste lands being taken into culti- 
vation. 

3rd, The Ryotwary system. — The Eyotwary system 13 
is the most important of all, and the one which gener- 
ally prevails in the Madras Presidency. Here the 
Government does not take the rent from the Head 
man of the village, nor from the Zemindar of a number 
of villages, but direct from the Ryots or village land- 



10 COTTOtf IK THE MADKAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I. 

holders. By this system every registered holder of land 
is recognized as its actual proprietor. He can sub-let 
his property, or transfer it by gift, sale, or mortgage. 
So long as he pays his yearly rent, the Government 
cannot eject him ; but he can at any time throw off 
this responsibility to Government, by throwing up all 
or any part of his land. 

14 Advantages of the Ryotwary tenure over the Zemind- 
ary tenure and the Village joint-rent system. — It may 
perhaps place a complicated question in a clearer light, 
if we thus briefly indicate the advantages of the Ryot- 
war settlement, over the Zemindary tenure or the 
village joint-rent system. To revert from the Ryotwary 
to the Zemindary tenure would entail four evils. 1st, 
It would place a middle-man between the Government 
and the Ryot. 2nd, It would strike off from 15 to 33 
per cent, of the existing revenue, which would go into 
the pockets of the middle-man. 3rd, It would alienate 
to the middle-man those waste lands, which the Ryots 
are being induced to take into cultivation, and which 
thus gradually increase the revenues of the State, and 
enable the Government to reduce the rent on the whole. 
4th, It would place the Ryots under the powerful and 
injurious influence of the Zemindars. Again, to revert 
from the Ryotwar to the village joint-rent system would 
entail two evils. 1st, It would annul individual property 
in the land. 2nd, It would render the whole of a village 
community responsible for the short-comings of any of 
its individual members. 

15 Revenue division of lands : Government, Zemindary, 
and Inam. — The village joint-rent system will shortly 
be abolished, and there will then remain but two lead- 
ing distinctions of tenure : viz., the Zemindary and 
Ryotwary. A large extent of land, amounting to 
nearly one-fourth of the assessed area, is held as Inam ; 
in other words, it is wholly or partially free from as- 
sessment. The origin of these lands is not unlike that 
of Zemindary lands. Certain fields have been given to 
individuals at various times, as rewards for services, or 
as funds for the support of pagodas, choultries (or rest- 
ing-places for travellers), and other charitable purposes ; 



CHAP. I.] 



GENEKAL VIEW. KEYENTJE. 



11 



or from motives which were merely personal. It is be- 
lieved that many of these lands were only given for 
life, but have been appropriated by the family ; and that 
other lnams have been improperly created, or annexed. 
Accordingly, an Inam Commission has been set on foot 
to determine the rights of holders of lnams, and to fix 
a very moderate assessment, redeemable at wills where 
those rights are found to be invalid. This matter, how- 
ever, is only of consequence so far as it serves to explain 
the nature of Inam lands. # 

Nature and extent of the Cotton soils of India. — The 16 
principal Cotton soil of India is known as collector of 
Black land, which is of various depths. Thus f^rTsfju 
in Cuddapah it is found to extend to twenty ly, 1858. 
or thirty feet, and generally rests, either on M * s * 
kunkur or lime, or else on sand. In Madura Collector of 
it is from four or five feet to fifteen feet in £^ th 
depth, and rests in many places upon rocks July, 1858. 
of black and white marbles and granite, and M ' s * 
also upon masses of gravel. In Tinnevelly ^nnevdiy's 
again we are told that the Black soil varies letter, 8th 
in depth from two to five feet ; and in Coim- yi. S.' ° * 
batore it is described as being from three collector of 
to six feet. This Black soil appears to be ^° t ^ r b ^° t r ^' s 
peculiarly adapted to the growth of Indian i5ec, isos. 
Cotton, and is to be found more or less in M * s * 
almost every District in the Presidency. In preparing 
the large Cotton Map which illustrates the present 
Hand-book, a sketch map of each District was forwarded 
to each District Engineer, with a request that he would 
colour those parts in which this Cotton soil prevailed. 
The results are accordingly exhibited in the Cotton 
Map, and generally serve to show the extent of land 
available for the cultivation of Indian Cotton. The 
amount of Cotton land actually under cultivation for 
the last eight years is also exhibited in the Appendix, 

* The average rate of Government assessment of suck lands as 
those upon which Cotton is generally cultivated, varies very con- 
siderably in each District. Thus in Bellary the average is about 
Is. Z\d. per acre, whilst in Vizagapatam it is nearly 8s. per acre. A 
statement exhibiting the average rate in each District will be found 
in the Appendix. 



12 COTTON IN THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I. 

under the several heads of Government lands, Inam 
lands, and Zemindary lands ; together with tha sum 
total of the yearly assessment of the Cotton lands of 
each District in Rupees. Besides, however, the Black 
soil, there are two other soils, viz., the Bed and the Al- 
luvial. These two, but especially the Bed, are found 
to be even better adapted to the cultivation of Ameri- 
can Cotton than the Black. This fact will *be fully 
discussed further on. It will be sufficient to say, that 
should the American species ultimately prove product- 
ive and profitable, the Madras Bresidency could alone 
furnish an almost inexhaustible supply of Indian and 
American Cotton. 

17 Four great Cotton Districts : Bellary and Cuddapah. 
to the north : Coimbatore and Tinnevelly to the south. 

■ — The present so called Cotton growing Districts of 
the Madras Bresidency, are eight in number, viz., 
Kristna, Nellore, Cuddapah, Kurnool, and Bellary in 
the north ; and Madura, Coimbatore, and Tinnevelly in 
the south. Of these, however, four are the principal, 
and those which must especially be borne in mind, 
viz. — 

North. — Bellary and Cuddapah. 
South. — Coimbatore and Tinnevelly. 

18 Statistics of the Cotton growing Districts. — In 1S48 
the following questions, drawn up by Dr. Boyle, were 
forwarded to each Collector with reference to Indian 
Cotton. 

1st. The price of Cotton, freed from the seed, in the 
principal mart or marts in the District. 

2nd. The price at which the Byot sells his Cotton, 
cleaned or uncleaned; and with or without advances. 

3rd. The expense of cleaning Cotton by the churka, 
a foot roller, # or any other method which may be in 
use. 

4th. The expenses of conveying Cotton to the near- 
est port for shipment. 

5th. The average produce of Cotton per acre. 

6th. The quantity of land under cultivation with 

* A description of the churka and foot roller will be found at 
paras. 24 and 25. 



CHAP. I.] GENEKAL YIEW. COTTON DISTRICTS. 13 



Cotton, and the extent to which the cultivation could 
be carried, in the event of an increasing demand. 

The information obtained in reply to these Parliament 
queries is exhibited on the table in the Ap- 36> 
pendix, which was prepared by the Madras 37. 
Board of Kevenue, but is now further simplified by the 
reduction into English money and measures. Much 
reliance, however, cannot be placed upon what is stated 
as regards " average produce " and " cost of culture." 
It has been stated that the Eyots will not Mr p mn i e > s 
tell the truth about the first ; and as they letters, 30th 
keep no accounts, they cannot furnish ac- andisthJan. 
curate information upon the second point. j^um 1 ' 81 ' 1 ' 
In the case of a poor Ryot, the cultivation (i857),p.27 
is carried on by himself and family ; in the and 55, 
case of a rich Ryot, it is carried on by his numerous 
dependents, whom he merely feeds. " 

Review of the three improvements required in the 19 
Indian Cotton. — Having thus glanced at the specialities 
of the Madras Presidency, it will be necessary to review 
the three great improvements which the late Company 
endeavoured to effect in India with reference to Cotton : 
viz., To introduce — 1st, A better variety ; 2nd, A bet- 
ter cultivation ; and 3rd, A better method of cleaning. 

1st. Better variety of Cotton: general classiflca- 20 
tion of Indian and American Cotton. — The Cotton 
plant may be divided, for all the practical purposes 
contemplated in the present work, into three species 
only, which with their respective varieties may be thus 
briefly indicated. 

1st. Indian Cotton, including the very short stapled 
varieties of Bengal, Madras, and Surat. 

2nd. North American Cotton, including, first, the 
short stapled varieties of New Orleans (Mexican), 
West Indian (Bourbon?), Uplands, and Boweds ; and, 
second, the long stapled variety of Sea Island Cotton, 
which is said to have the longest, finest, and softest 
fibre in the world. 

3rd. South American Cotton, including the long 
stapled varieties of Pernambuco (Brazilian), Peruvian, 
etc. 



14i COTTOK 1ST THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. IX 

Besides these, there are other varieties, if not species, 
of Cotton ; such as the Cotton tree which grows in the 
Indian jungle ; and an inferior sort of Indian Cotton, 
called " Nadum," which is never grown for exportation, 
though it is occasionally employed for purposes of 
adulteration. There is also the Egyptian Cotton, which 
was originally imported both from North and South 
America about forty years ago ; and which deserves 
some special mention as some experiments have been 
made with it in this Presidency. But a full description 
of these varieties, however interesting to the scientific 
botanist, would serve no practical purpose in the present 
publication. # A glance at the frontispiece, which ex- 
hibits the various lengths of the different staples, will 
convey a general knowledge of the subject ; and it may 
be added that the North and South American varieties 
exceed the Indian varieties, not only in length of staple 
but in fineness and softness of fibre. 
21 Six leading varieties of Cotton, viz. Indian, Bour- 
bon, Kew Orleans, Pernambuco, Egyptian, and Sea 
Island. — With these preliminary observations we may 
now safely say, that for all practical purposes, the 
reader of the present volume will only find it necessary 
to retain the names of six different Cottons, viz. — 

1st. Indian, which is indigenous to the soil. 

2nd. Bourbon, so named from having been grown in 
the Isle of Bourbon, where it is supposed to have been 
introduced by the Trench from the "West Indies. It 
was first cultivated in India during the latter part of 
the last century and commencement of the present. 

3rd. New Orleans, which is sometimes alluded to as 
Mexican, and even as American. This was the Cotton 
which the late Company more particularly desired to 
introduce into India.f 

4th. Pernambuco, or Brazilian, upon which some 

* For a learned and scientific dissertation on the different species 
and varieties of Cotton, the reader cannot do better than refer to Dr. 
Forbes Royle's work on the culture of Cotton in India. 

f Dr. Wight tried other sorts, including Pernambuco ; but it will 
be seen that the great object of his experimental farms was to grow 
New Orleans Cotton. 



CHAP. I.] GENERAL VIEW. VARIETIES OP COTTON. 15 



experiments are still being made by private individuals. 
This Cotton is marked by the peculiarity of its seeds, 
which adhere together in conglomerations. 

5th. Egyptian, which has been tried with some suc- 
cess in the Madras district. 

6th. The Sea Island, which is cultivated on a range 
of islands lying along the coast of South Carolina and 
Georgia.* 

Indian, Bourbon, and New Orleans Cotton compared. 22 

— Besides the differences between the staple of the 
Indian and New Orleans Cotton, there are some other 
peculiarities which are well worthy of notice. The In- 
dian is a stunted plant, which seems as though it 
formed a degenerate species. It rarely rises above three 
feet from the ground, and sometimes scarcely a foot ; 
and its branches in the- same way spread out only from 
one foot to three. The Bourbon, which was originally 
brought from the Mauritius, about the latter 

i i* j i -| i j • j "i j 1 1 Letters from 

end oi the last century, rises to about the the Collectors 
same height as the Indian, but then it denary a Ma^ 
spreads out its branches much more. The dura, Tmne- 
New Orleans, however, rises to a far greater ^iatorefsup- 
height than either the Bourbon or the In- plyiyg in'for- 
dian, and spreads out its branches a great vrofefJn 
deal more than either. But the root of the ^record?' 
New Orleans does not strike so deeply into 
the ground as either the Bourbon or the Indian ; and 
consequently it is less able to bear a protracted drought 
than either one or the other. This fact may be found 
useful in explaining some of the results attendant upon 

* A still clearer idea of the different varieties of Cotton may be 
gathered from a consideration of the different manufactured goods in 
which they are employed. Thus the finest qualities of Cotton, or 
those of the Sea Island class, are worked into lace and muslin of the 
most beautiful texture. Other qualities, — Egyptian, New Orleans, 
and Boweds, — are made into cambrics and calicoes for printing, as 
well as into shirtings, sheetings, and fustians ; and, when mixed with 
the better kinds of waste, into bed-covers and heavy fabrics. But 
East Indian Cotton is rarely at present used alone, except for the 
lowest purposes, because of its general inferiority ; and it is generally 
disposed of in adulteration. Bazley's Lecture upon Cotton, p. 29. 
"We might however remind Mr. Bazley that very beautiful muslins 
are still manufactured by the native weavers at Dacca and Arnee 



16 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I. 



the experimental culture which we shall presently have 
to record. 

23 2nd, Better system of Cultivation : Indian and 
American agriculture compared. — The differences be- 
tween American and Indian culture will be largely 
illustrated in the present volume ; but it may be as 
well to state here generally that they chiefly lie in the 
degree of attention bestowed upon the land. The 
Americans practise deep ploughing, are careful in the 
selection of seed, and sow on ridges, keeping the 
plants wide apart, and carefully destroying all weeds. 
The Indian Ryots, on the other hand, frequently sow 
their Cotton broad-cast, and often with three or four 
other crops ; they allow the plants to grow too closely 
Dr Rovie's ^°g etner > the weeds to flourish, and the 
Culture of wool to hang long after the seed is ripe. 
India 11 "215 ^ n some localities however they sow in 

drills, plough the land previous to sowing, 
hoe weeds away whilst the plant is growing, and take 
care to have a rotation of crops. When this is the 
case, says Dr. Eoyle, the Cottons are superior to 
those produced by more careless cultivators. 

24 3rd. — Better method of separating and cleaning the 
Cotton : 1st, The Foot Roller. — Cotton grows in a pod. 
When the fruit is ripe the pod bursts, and discloses 
the seed enveloped in a kind of soft white fibre, which 
presents all the appearance of a particularly fine and 
dazzling wool. Two operations are necessary to ren- 
der this wool, or staple, as it is called, available for the 
carder and spinner: — first, to separate it from the 
seed ; and secondly, to clean it from any extraneous 
matter which may have adhered to it in the processes 
of gathering and separation. The proverbial simplicity 
of the tools and engines employed by Hindoo artisans 
and mechanics generally, is strikingly displayed in 
both operations in India. In ancient times the Natives 
literally separated the wool from the seed with their 
feet, and then cleaned it with their hands. This 
practice still lingers in the Southern Mahratta coun- 
Letter from ^ e Cotton is placed on a flat stone. 
Mr. c. Lush, A woman sits on a stool before it. Her 



THE FOOT ROLLER 




A A srrwotk stone . DD WootL&v soles. 



E A stool . 
C AruJrorv. 



X Tlw Seeds. 
T The. GittoTv. 



THE CHURKA 




CHAP. I.] GENERAL VIEW. CULTURE AND CLEANING. 17 



only implement is an iron roller, but 4th Decem- 
wooden soles are fastened to each of her cottonRe- 
feet. This iron roller she places on the ports (1838), 
Cotton, and then rolls it backwards and p* 294, 
forwards with her feet, until the wool is fairly separ- 
ated from the seed, and the seed is rolled out in front, 
whilst the Cotton wool comes out under the stool be- 
hind in a continuous web. If the woman cleans this 
wool with her hands — picking away all the dirt, pieces 
of leaf, stray seeds, smashed seeds, and other ob- 
jectionable trash, — she produces, after a great expense 
of time and labour, a wool which is easily spun into 
clothing for the family, whilst the seed is used as food 
for the cattle. 

The Native Clmrka. — The foot roller however has 25 
almost vanished from the Madras Presidency, and the 
machine now in general use is the Churka. This 
simple implement is only one step in advance of the 
foot roller. It consists of two rollers set in a wooden 
frame, with a small interval between them. These are 
turned with an ordinary handle, the motion of one 
being communicated to the other by a sort of endless 
screw. The Cotton is passed between these rollers, 
and the staple is thus separated from the seed ; but 
the wool is turned out in a matted state, with the 
fibres all lying confused in different directions, so as 
to give a great deal of trouble to English Letter of 
carders. Moreover the wool is mixed up Messrs. 
with all the dirty bits of leaf and seed ^V a n nd 
already indicated. The Natives, however, Cardi^ and 
can completely clean it by the laborious Masters' 5 9th 
process of hard picking, and they appear February, 
i to resort to this process for home con- r 4 ^ 1, 
sumption ; but for exportation, they seem ^V gal » 369 
to content themselves with beating it with p * 
sticks on rattan frames, of which an amusing account 
will be found in para. 177. 

The American Saw Gin.— The American Saw Grin 26 
is a totally different machine, and is the result of 
capital, ingenuity, and enterprise. It both separates 
the Cotton from the seed, and cleans the staple. It 



18 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. £ 



consists of a number of thin wheels, the edges of 
which are cogged or toothed; but perhaps the term 
" sawed " is more expressive, as the teeth are sharp, 
pointed downwards, and act like a saw. These circular 
saws are to separate the Cotton wool from the seed. 
The larger gins contain sixty circular saws, which are 
turned round by cattle machinery. The process of 
separation is thus performed. Each thin circular saw 
passes in every revolution through a corresponding 
narrow grating,* so narrow indeed that whilst the 
wool passes through with the saw, the seed is cut off 
by the grating and left behind. The Cotton is accord- 
ingly placed in a trough or hopper above the saw 
wheels. The wheels as they turn round carry away 
the Cotton, and as they pass through the grating 
they separate the wool from the seed. Meantime a 
cylinder surrounded with brushes revolves in an op- 
posite direction, and not only brushes away the wool 
from the saw wheels, but cleanses it from all impuri- 
ties. The attempts which have been made to adapt 
this machine to Indian Cotton, and to invent some 
other Cotton cleaning machine, which should combine 
the perfection of the saw wheels and brush wheel 
with the cheapness and simplicity of the churka, will 
be illustrated in the following pages. f 

The Thresher. — This machine was originally in- 
tended to purify the seed Cotton from leaves and 
trash prior to ginning ; for though the brush wheel of 
the saw gin sufficiently cleaned the wool, yet it was 
found that the gin worked more - easily if the principal 
trash was thrown off prior to the submission of the 
seed to the action of the saws. The thresher consists 
of a large trough or hopper in which two or three 
cylinders revolve, being turned round by the same 
motive power which turns the gin. The seed Cotton 

* Description of Whitney's Saw Gin. Cotton Reports (1836), p. 
430. Here, as elsewhere, the compiler has indicated the sources of 
his information, though he has found it necessary to express himself 
in totally different language. 

f A description of the Cottage saw gin will be found at para. 245, 
accompanied by an illustration. This will be found sufficient to ex- 
plain the principle of the American gin. 



CHAP. I.] DIVISION OF SUBJECT MATTER. 



19 



is thrown into this trough, and thereupon is rendered 
so loose and lively by the action of the cylinders, that 
the trash falls off, and passes through a grating in the 
bottom of the trough into a receptacle below. The 
seed Cotton thus purified is removed through a door 
at the side, and placed in the hopper of the saw gin. 
The question to be decided is, whether the thresher 
would not be found useful in clearing off the trash 
from Indian seed Cotton, prior to submitting it to the 
action of the churka. This point will be discussed in 
the fifth chapter. 

Division of the subject matter of the present Hand- 
book. — Having thus glanced generally at the special- 
ities of the Madras Presidency, and the nature of the 
objects which the late Company have sought to ac- 
complish, it is advisable, for the sake of clearness, to 
notice those salient points in the following narrative, 
which form the ground- work of the division of the 
subject matter. The early efforts of the East India 
Company for the extension and improvement of the 
Cotton culture in India, are chiefly interesting in an 
antiquarian point of view. Accordingly they occupy 
but a very small portion of the present volume. The 
bulk of the work consists of a detail of facts and 
opinions elicited during the experiments which were 
carried out in this Presidency, between the years of 
1841 and 1853, partly by practical American Planters, 
and partly by the eminent scientific botanist, Dr. 
"Wight, who throughout the greater .part of these 
twelve years held the post of Superintendent. After 
a few preliminaries, the Experimental Earms were 
fairly established in this Presidency in 1841, during 
the Governorship of Lord Elphinstone ; and the cul- 
tivation of American Cotton, and employment of 
American saw gins, were carried on during four years 
by three Planters and an Engineer, under the super- 
intendence of Dr. "Wight in the district of Coimba- 
tore. At the expiration of that period, that is, in 
1845, when the Marquis of Tweeddale was Governor, 
some modifications were made in the experiment. 
One of the Planters died, and the two others were 



20 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. I. 

transferred to Bombay; but another Planter named 
Finnie, who had been originally deputed to Bengal, 
was engaged for four years longer by the Madras Go- 
vernment. Instead however of joining Dr. "Wight at 
Coimbatore, Mr. Finnie was located in Tinnevelly. 
Thus another period of four years passed away, ex- 
tending from 1845 to 1849, during which Mr. Imnie 
was engaged in Tinnevelly, and Dr. Wight in Coim- 
batore. But towards the end of this second period a 
serious disagreement broke out between Dr. Wight 
and Mr. Finnic About the same time, the Marquis 
of Tweeddale was succeeded by Sir Henry Pottinger. 
The new Governor seems to have been thoroughly 
dissatisfied with the progress of the Cotton experi- 
ment; and in 1849 Dr. Wight's farm at Coimbatore 
was suddenly ordered to be given up, and Mr. Finnie 
was informed that the term for which he had been 
engaged was nearly over, and that when over, his 
services would be no longer required. The same year, 
however, the Court of Directors sent out a despatch, 
approving of the steps taken with reference to Mr. 
Finnie, but directing the Madras Government to re- 
instate Dr. Wight in his position as Superintendent 
of the Cotton experiment. Thus a third period of 
four years passed away ; at the expiration of which, 
in 1853, the experiment was finally brought to a close. 
Dr. Wight retired from the service and returned to 
Europe ; and the Government withdrew from all direct 
attempts to promote the cultivation of American Cot- 
ton, or to extend the use of foreign machinery in this 
Presidency. 

29 Twelve years of Cotton Experiments, divisible into 
three periods of four years each. — From the foregoing- 
particulars, it will be seen that the narrative of the 
Cotton experiments naturally separates itself into six 
chapters. The first chapter comprises a description 
of the field of operations, and a review of the objects 
sought. The second chapter comprises a brief review 
of the early experiments which had been undertaken 
in reference to the subject ; and a narrative of the 
agricultural proceedings of Dr. Wight and his three 
Planters in the Cotton farms in Coimbatore, during 



CEAP. I.] DIVISION OF SUBJECT MATTER. 



21 



the four years extending from 1841 to 1845. The 
third chapter comprises the narrative of Dr. Wight's 
proceedings alone in Coimbatore from 1845 to 1849. 
The fourth chapter comprises the narrative of Mr. 
Pinnie's proceedings in Tinnevelly during the same 
period. The fifth chapter comprises a review of the 
discussion between Dr. Wight and Mr. Pinnie, a brief 
narrative of the circumstances which led to the stop- 
page of the experiment by Sir Henry Pottinger's Go- 
vernment, and the renewal of the experiment by the 
Court of Directors ; together with the last proceed- 
ings of Dr. Wight down to his final retirement in 
1853. The sixth and last chapter is devoted to a 
short sketch of the present condition of the Cotton 
culture in the Madras Presidency. 

Specialities of the several Chapters. — Having thus 33 
mapped out the subject, it may be as well to indicate 
the specialities of the several chapters. On the mat- 
ter of the first chapter nothing need be said, as it is 
purely of an introductory character. The second and 
third chapters, which comprise a narrative of Dr. 
Wight's experimental culture in Coimbatore, will be 
found chiefly useful as exhibiting the results of Dr. 
Wight's scientific experiences respecting the adapt- 
ability of the American plant to the climate and soil 
of India. The fourth chapter, comprising the story 
of Mr. Pinnie's proceedings in Tinnevelly, will be 
found useful in a totally different way ; namely, as 
exhibiting the experiences of a practical man, both as 
regards the relative conditions of Cotton cultivation 
and trade in America and India, and the nature of 
the difficulties in the way of introducing into the 
Madras Presidency the general culture of American 
Cotton, and the general employment of American ma- 
chinery. The fifth chapter is a gathering of results, 
which are illustrated by the discussions between Dr. 
Wight and Mr. Pinnie, the proceedings of Sir Henry 
Pottinger's Government, and the decisions of the 
Court of Directors. The last chapter, and the ap- 
pendices, are chiefly important as bringing down the 
general results to the present day. 



CHAPTEE II. 



FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER BR. WIGHT 
AND THE AMERICAN PLANTERS, 1841 TO 1845. 

(31.) Stoppage of demand for Indian Muslins and Calicoes, but grow- 
ing demand for Cotton Wool. — (32.) Early efforts to extend and improve 
Indian Cotton. — (33.) Introduction of Bourbon Cotton into the Madras 
Presidency. — (34.) Mr. Metcalfe, an American Cotton cleaner, sent to the 
Presidency, 1813: efforts of the Madras Government, 1819— 1836.— (35.) 
Ten American Planters sent to India, 1840. — (36.) Prevailing opinions 
upon Cotton Culture in the Madras Presidency. — (37.) Three Planters 
located in Tinnevelly, October, 1840. — (38.) Contemplated removal of the 
Planters to the neighbourhood of Mr. Fischer's establishment at Salem. — 
(39.) First Season, 1841-42: commenced under Captain Hughes. — (40.) 
Reported failure in consequence of a heavy Monsoon, January, 1842. — 
(41.) Sudden renovation of the crop : Dr. Wight succeeds Captain 
Hughes, February. — (42.) Relative effects of the Monsoon, the Drought, 
and the Rain, upon the Cotton shrub : difference between the Red and 
Black soils.— (43.) Results of the Season 1841-42.— (44.) Dr. Wight's 
plan of operations : introduction of American Culture more important 
than that of American Cotton. — (45.) Early trials of the American saw gin. 
— (46.) Second Season, 1842-43 : arrangement of the Four Experimental 
Farms. — (47.) Three varieties of land, viz., Black, Red, and Alluvial. — 
(48.) Distribution of soil amongst the Four Farms : Method of Cultivation. 

DR. WIGHT'S "NOTES ON AMERICAN COTTON CULTURE AS PRACTISED 
ON THE GOVERNMENT COTTON FARMS." 

(49.) Drill husbandry : land ploughed and cast in ridges, eight or ten 
inches high, at intervals of about five feet. — (50.) Sowing in a furrow of 
about two inches deep along the centre of each ridge.— (51.) Scraping 
out of superfluous plants and weeds. — (52.) Banking up the ridges, first 
with the plough and afterwards with the hoe. — (53.) Keeping down ex- 
traneous vegetation until the crop ripens. — (54.) Native ploughs and 
American ploughs compared : question of whether American Cotton would 
thrive without ridging. 

(55.) Results of the Second Season on the Black, Red, and Alluvial 
soils, 1842-43. — (56.) Comparison of the growth of the Indian, New Or- 
leans, and Bourbon Cotton. — (57.) Reports of the English Brokers on Dr. 
Wight's Cotton.— (58.) Oopum (Indian) Cotton.— (59.) New Orleans.— (60.) 
Bourbon.— (61.) Third Season, 1843-44 : state of the Cotton Farms, Gins, 
and Gin-house. — (62.) Unfavourable results : their causes. — (63.) Com- 
parison of the Crops of the third Season with those of the second. — (64.) 
Fourth Season, 1844-45 : experiment of treating the plant as a biennial. — 
(65 ) Comparative produce of the four Seasons. — (66.) General Results of 



1697 — 1860.] IMPORT OF COTTON WOOL. 



23 



the four Seasons of the Experimental Farms : necessity for a rotation of 
! Crops. — (67.) Causes of the success of Mr. Wroughton's Cotton experi- 
ment. — (68.) First, Influence of both monsoons. — (69.) Second, Early- 
preparation and sowing. — (70.) Drought and Grate the only dangers to be 
avoided. — (71.) Question of manure. — (72.) Three advantages possessed 
| by India over America in the cultivation of American Cotton. — (73.) Re- 
j munerative demand alone required in India. — (74.) Cost of cultivation. — 
(75.) Further proceedings of the Fourth Season, 1844-45. — (76.) Mr. Simp- 
son's Eeport on the districts of North Canara, bordering on Dharwar. — (77.) 
j Soondah : unfavourable from the presence of "Kunkur." — (78.) Soopah : 
soil favourable but climate unfavourable. — (79.) Mr. Simpson's opinion on 
the failure of the Coimbatore Farms to extend the culture of American 
|; Cotton. — (80.) Recommends the appointment of a practical person to dis- 
L tribute seed and exhibit the gins. — (81.) Mr. Simpson's suggestions ap- 
proved: his transfer to the Bombay Presidency. — (82.) Dr. Wight's an- 
swers to the queries of the Marquis of Tweeddale. — (83.) Superiority of 
the American Cotton to the Indian. — (84.) Extension of the improved 
methods of cultivation among the Ryots. — (85.) Reluctance of the Ryots 
to adopt the saw gin. 

Stoppage of demand for Indian muslins and calicoes, 31 
but growing demand for Cotton wool. — During the 
latter part of the last century, the conflict between 
! the East India Company and the Native powers, was 
equalled by the rivalry between the Cotton manufac- 
I turers of Great Britain and the Native weavers of 
. India. The result in both cases was the same. Whilst 
the Native princes were yielding to the superior 
prowess of the British arms, the Native weavers were 
conquered by the Spinning Jenny and Power Loom. 
The Arkwright machinery indeed seemed to defy all 
1 opposition. As early as 1793, British muslins were 
j equal in appearance to those of India, whilst the pat- 
| terns were far more elegant, and the cost was less 
than one-third. But at the same time, $ elecJt Com 
that demand for the raw wool had sprung miiteeoftho 
1 up, which in the present day has reached ^^tors 
such enormous limits. In 1697 the yearly quoted by 
import of Cotton wool into Great Britain, Royle * 
was only 2 millions of pounds. In 1775 it reached 8 
millions, and within ten years the improved machinery 
had raised the import to 20 millions. But the present 
century has perhaps witnessed the most extraordinary 
increase. In 1800 the yearly import was nearly 60 
millions ; in 1820 it was 150 millions ; in 1840 it was 



24 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [l788 — 1813c 



Extract Pa- 
pers relative 
to American 
tariff, laid 
before Par- 
liament in 
1828. Cot- 
ton Reports 
of East In- 
dia Com p. 
(1836), p. ix. 



Despatch of 
Court of 
Directors to 
Governor- 
General, 20th 
Aug., 1788. 
Reports on 
Coi ton wool 
(1836), p. 3. 



500 millions; and in 1860 it was 1500 
millions. Hitherto the American supply 
has generally been equal to the demand ; 
and Whitney's saw gin has done nearly as 
much for the States in the preparation of 
Cotton wool, as Arkwright's machinery 
has done for Great Britain in the manu- 
facture of Cotton goods. 

32 Early efforts to extend and improve Indian Cotton. 
— From an early period the Directors of the late 
Company were naturally anxious that India should 

take a part in the supply of Cotton. In 
1788, during a temporary calm in political 
affairs, the Directors ordered 500,000 lbs. 
of the best Indian Cotton, and obtained 
reports from the Revenue Collectors of 
the several districts ; # but in the end 
only a small quantity of very indifferent 
Cotton was obtained from Bombay. Still 
however the Directors were not disheartened ; and in 
1790, and for some years afterwards, Dr. Anderson 
was engaged at Madras in distributing a variety of 
foreign Cotton seeds, obtained from Malta and the 
Mauritius, throughout the Peninsula of India. 

33 Introduction of Bourbon Cotton into the Madras 
Presidency. — One important result followed Dr. An- 
derson's labours, namely, the introduction of Bourbon 
Cotton ; and this variety subsequently became na- 
turalized in three Southern Districts ; viz., Tin- 
nevelly, Salem, and Coimbatore. This success is in a 
great measure to be ascribed to the enterprise of a 
private merchant named Hughes, who resided in Tin- 

nevelly. Mr. Hughes seemed born with a 
genius for developing the resources of a 
country. For a long time his Senna was 
widely celebrated as the best in the world. 
His cultivation of Bourbon Cotton was, 
from author- however, a still greater triumph ; and for 

ltiesonthe ' , ° « V > rrv 

spot. more than twenty years Hughes s Tm. 

* Extracts from these obsolete Reports may be found in the Ap- 
pendix to the Reports on Cotton Wool, 1836. 



Royle's Me- 
moirs. Pari. 
Return 
(1847), p. 28. 
Personal 
knowledge 
obtained 



1813-36.] EARLY EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE. 



25 



nevelly Cotton " continued to be quoted in the Liver- 
pool market as the best in India ; and it was actually 
sold at higher prices than the American short stapled 
Cottons, and three-pence per lb. above the best Surats. 

Mr. Metcalfe, an American Cotton Cleaner, sent to 
the Presidency, 1813 : efforts of the Madras Govern- 
ment, 1819— 1836.— Meantime the Court 
of Directors were anxious to extend the 
cultivation of Cotton, and to improve the 
condition of the wool. Accordingly, in 
1813, they sent out Mr. Bernard Metcalfe, 
a Cotton Cleaner from Georgia and New 
Orleans, to experimentalize with some American saw 
gins in the Cotton growing districts of Tinneveliy, 
Bellary, and Cuddapah. But the attempt 
failed, as the Natives refused to give up 
their time-honoured churka, for such ex- 
pensive and new-fangled machinery as the 
gin. About the same time, the Com- 
mercial Eesidents in the service of the 
Company appear to have interested them- 
selves in the Cotton question ; for it will 
be remembered that in those days the Company was 
a mercantile body as well as a political power. In 
1819, Mr. Eunclall, the Commercial Resi- 
dent in Bellary and Cuddapah, drew up 
a Memorial upon Cotton cultivation, in 
which he urged the introduction of Cot- 
ton from Bourbon, Brazil, and New Or- 
leans. Accordingly, the Madras Govern- 
ment established four Cotton Farms of four hundred 
acres each : viz. — two in Tinneveliy and Coimbatore in 
Southern India ; and two in Masulipatam # and Yiza- 
gapatam in the Northern Circars. Each Farm was 
placed under the direction of the Commercial Resi- 
dent of the district. Of these the Farm at Yizagapa- 
tam proved the most successful ; for there the Com- 
mercial Resident, Mr. Heath, had largely profited by 
the instructions which he had received from Mr. 



Despatch 
from Court 
of Directors, 
7tnMay,1813. 
Cotto Re- 
ports (1836), 
p. 50. 



Letter from 
Bombay 
Govt, to 
Court of 
Directors, 
18 ih Dec, 
1816. 

Cotton Re- 
ports (183B), 
p. 61. 



Letters from 
Madi as 
Board Trade, 
27ta Mav, 
1819. Cot- 
ton Reports 
(1836), p. 87. 



Xow included in the Godaveri district. See para. 9. 



26 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. II. 



Hughes of Tinnevelly.* In the present day the Cot- 
ton grown in Vizagapatam is insufficient for the home 
consumption of the province, and consequently sup- 
plies of Cotton wool are imported from the Grodaveri 

* Mr. Hughes's method of cultivating Bourbon Cotton in India 
is worthy of notice, inasmuch as reference will be made to it here- 
after. His own account is arranged under the heads of soil, climate, 
culture, pruning, and cleaning. (1.) As regards Soil, he asserted 
that the Bed and Brown Loams formed the most suitable and fruit- 
ful. Bich, heavy, retentive, stiff soils did not answer; for though 
the plants might be luxuriant, yet they were apt to produce wood 
and leaf, rather than fruit buds. Black Cotton soil, he declared, was 
to be entirely avoided for the Bourbon Cotton. (2.) As regards 
Climate, Mr. Hughes believed that the free admission of light winds, 
and the free circulation of air, were of the greatest benefit : and that 
situations near the sea, or within the influence of the sea breeze, 
were to be preferred. A dry soil and a dry atmosphere from March 
to May, and from July to September, seemed essential both to the 
good quality of the wool and the productiveness of the plant. (3.) 
As regards Culture, Mr. Hugbes had ascertained that the plant 
would continue many years ; that is, the plant might be cultivated 
as a perennial. The plants should be sown eight feet apart, in rows 
which should be again eight feet asunder ; in order to afford facility 
for- ploughing and hoeing, and for a free circulation of air. If the 
sowing could be effected in September, the young plant would be 
able to resist the continued wet of a heavy monsoon. Little was 
gained by sowing in October, November, or December; but the 
intervals of clear weather in those months answered well for trans- 
planting ; and the first week of January very well, both for sowing 
and transplanting. (4.) Pruning should be practised twice in the 
year. The first and most important pruning should take place be- 
tween the 15th and 31st of December, when the shrub is cut down 
to two feet high and two feet wide, only the firm "wood being left 
with the strong white and brown bark. In January during the fine 
days the plantation should be ploughed thoroughly three or four 
times. In less than two months the whole of the plants will be 
again in the finest foliage and full blossom, and continue in full 
bearing throughout the months of March, April, and May. Early 
in June a good many pods still remain, and a second pruning should 
be practised of the long, straggling, twisted soft shoots with diminu- 
tive pods. Subsequently from July to September good produce may 
be obtained, unless the plants are damaged by rain. (5.) Cleaning 
was practised on Mr. Hughes's plantation in a most careful manner, 
the wool being cleaned by hand. 

It must however be remarked that Mr. Hughes calculated this 
Cotton to cost him about twelve pence a pound ; but then, in 1817, 
it was sold in London for more than two shillings per pound. See 
Mr. Hughes's instructions to Mr. Heath. Boyle's Cotton Culture, 
p. 227. 



1836-40.] EAELY EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE. 



27 



district. In 1836, Dr. "Wight was appointed by the 
Madras Government to report on the state of agricul- 
ture in Southern India ; and he subsequently repre- 
sented that the returns of Cotton per acre were 
greater in Vizagapatam than in any other district. 
But these early reports and proceedings are of small 
importance, in the face of the large experiments which 
were conducted through the agency of American 
Planters, and which we shall now proceed to record. 

Ten American Planters sent to India, 1840. — In 35 
1840, the Court of Directors engaged ten 
Planters or Overseers from the Cotton pf*ectors the 
States in North America, to instruct the 15th March, 
Natives of India in the cultivation and Ret 9 urn ParL 
cleaning of Cotton. This measure was (i847),p. 2. 
initiated with considerable difficulty. Cap- 
tain Bayles of the Madras Army, who had been de- 
puted to the Cotton States for the purpose, managed 
to keep his secret for some time ; but after he had 
engaged a few Planters, and purchased a sixty saw 
gin, a model gin house, and other machinery, the ob- 
ject of his mission eked out. The violent opposition 
which he then had to encounter, compelled him to 
carry arms, and to labour under the constant fear of 
being forced to use them ; and the virulent attacks of 
the press at Natchez, combined with a 
sense of the lawless state of the com- ^847 jfp. 1 ^™ 
munity, and the urgent representation of 
friends, induced him to retreat the moment he had 
effected the objects of his journey. The Planters thus 
engaged were each to receive £300 per annum, and a 
gratuity in the event of success. Three were deputed 
to the Madras Presidency, viz. Mr. Mor- 
ris, Mr. Hawley, and Mr. Simpson; and ^wj^S 
about October, 1840, these gentlemen 
reached their destination. 

Prevailing opinions upon Cotton Cultivation in the 3G 
Madras Presidency. — At this time it was 
the general opinion that nothing was th e s iHrect- f 
wanting to promote the cultivation of ore, 2nd 
Bourbon Cotton but a remunerative price, pari' Return 



28 COTTOX IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. II. 



(1847), p. 23. I n Coimbatore, for instance, the Byots at 

Mr n suU?v-n ^ rs ^ manifested a distaste for its cul- 

25th ApriC ' tivation, because, — 1st, The seed contained 

Retum p*. no anc * therefore the cattle would not 

52. Dr. ' eat it ; * 2nd, The demand was fluctuating ; 

Mter^list and 3rd, The thread was too fine for Na- 

i84o ma ibid ** ve manu f ac t urers - But when it was 
p . 40. ' found that the Bourbon Cotton produced 
double the crop per acre of the Indian 
Cotton, then we are told that the cultivation began 
to increase. But still the Ryot received no more for 
Bourbon than for Indian ; and in fact only received 
about 2^d. per lb., whilst the exporter realized from 
6d. to lid. As regarded Indian Cotton, it was the 
general opinion that it had greatly deteriorated. In 
olden time very much stress was laid upon quality. 
The Indian manufacturers were themselves the pur- 
chasers, and gave prices according to quality. Then 
again, when the Company received much of their 
rents in Cotton, the Agent would receive none but 
what was good and clean. Subsequently, however, 
the Cotton was no longer bought direct by manufac- 
turers, but by brokers ; and thus quantity rather than 
quality became the primary object of the grower. It 
may however be remarked generally, that the condi- 
tion of Indian Cotton has been gradually improving 
of late years. The Natives may be timid and sus- 
picious, but they are just as alive to their own inter- 
ests as any European. 
37 Three Planters located in Tinnevelly, October, 1840. 
Minutes of — -^e * nree American Planters reached 
Consuita- Madras just as the season for sowing was 

* Captain Taylor has pointed out that this objection is a fallacy, 
and that cattle will eat the seed of American Cotton. He mentions 
that on one occasion a Native Farmer urged the objection, when the 
experiment was immediately tried by placing a basket of American 
seed before a Buffalo. The Buffalo at once began to eat the seed, 
and Captain Taylor states that the objection accordingly died away 
in that quarter, and that the growth of American Cotton was con- 
siderably extended. Essay on the Cultivation of Cotton in India. 
Other authorities state that Buffaloes will not eat the American seed 
until they are half starved. 



1840.] ME. FISCHER'S CO-OPERATION DECLINED. 29 



over. They were however despatched to tion, 3ist 
the Tinnevelly district, under the superin- pSi. Return 
tendence of Captain Hughes, for the pur- (1847), p. 306. 
pose of familiarizing themselves with the 
native mode of cultivation, as well as with the charac- 
ter of the people. At Tinnevelly the Ryots were in- 
vited by proclamation to come forward and receive 
instruction from the American Planters ; and accord- 
ingly some Ryots about two miles off requested the 
attendance of the Planters. The Ameri- 
cans proceeded to the locality, and pointed Hughes's 
out the defects in the native mode of 3^^' and 1 
gathering the seed Cotton, and proceeded 3rd April, 
to explain their own method. The Ryots ^turn* 1 " 
in return acknowledged the superiority of (1847), p. 
the American method, but urged that it 
was more laborious and expensive ; and therefore they 
refused to adopt it, unless Government would pur- 
chase the Cotton so produced at a fixed valuation. 
In a word, they would neither adopt the American 
cultivation, nor sow the American seed, unless Go- 
vernment would buy the produce ; and the Planters 
found that these sentiments were pretty general 
throughout the Cotton growers of the district. 

Contemplated removal of the Planters to the neigh- 38 
bourhood of Mr. Fischer's establishment at Salem. — 
The non-arrival of the gin machinery prevented the 
Planters from doing anything further during the season 
of 1840-41 in the way of preparing the Cotton wool. 
Meantime Lord Elphinstone, who was Minutesof 
then Governor of Madras, decided on re- Consuita- 
moving the Planters from Tinnevelly to M°ay,i84i. 
Coimbatore and Salem, where they would Pari.' Return 
be in the immediate neighbourhood of Mr. (1847) ' p - 313 - 
Fischer, who was a large Contractor with Native Cot- 
ton growers. Mr. Fischer however con- Mr pig _ 
sidered that the general inferiority of the cher's letter, 
Madras Cotton arose from the vicious \ta. M Ysk. ' 
system of trade, by which there was a sue- Return 
cession of middlemen or brokers, from the 
village Chetty who made advances to the Ryot in his 



30 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON. 



hour of need, up to the Dubash of the European 
Agent at Madras who shipped the Cotton for Eng- 
land. Thus after each middleman had made his own 
profit, the smallest modicum remained to the Ryot, 
who consequently had no other resource but to sup- 
ply the largest possible quantity. Under such cir- 
cumstances, Mr. Eischer considered that the services 
of the Planters might prove valuable in giving to the 
Byots an improved system of cultivation, including 
the picking, cleaning, and embaling ; but that the 
real difficulties in the way of raising the character of 
Madras Cotton were altogether beyond their control. 
Mr. Eischer then followed the suggestion of Lord 
Elphinstone that the Planters should be removed to 
the neighbourhood of his establishment. On the one 
hand he undertook to induce those Ryots who re- 
ceived advances from him, to follow the instructions 
of the Planters. On the other hand his establish- 
ment would afford opportunities to the Planters of 
cultivating different kinds of Cotton, and would also 
furnish them with an American saw gin for separating 
and cleaning the wool. 
) First Season, 1841-42: commenced under Captain 
Hughes. — The Court of Directors disapproved of the 
experimental cultivation being carried on with the 
co-operation of Mr. Eischer; — 1st, Because he was 
Despatch of n0 * ^ n ^ ne Company's service; and 2ndly, 
the Court of Because they had no desire to interfere 
SFnov!' with the Cotton trade, but simply to im- 
iietuiif^ 1 ' P rove the article ; and the expressed views 
(1847), p. of Mr. Eischer were connected with the 
S18 * commercial part of the question. The 

three Planters were accordingly removed to the 
Coimbatore district to carry on independ- 
HughSs ent operations. Mr. Hawley and Mr. 
and e aoth 29th Simpson were to cultivate 200 acres in 
August, the neighbourhood of the town of Coim- 
Return aiL batore ; and Mr. Morris was to cultivate 
(1847), p. 320, a farm of 100 acres at Errode, about fifty- 
five miles to the north-east of Coimba- 
tore. 



1841-2.] DR. WIGHT AND AMERICAN PLANTERS. 31 



Reported failure in consequence of a heavy mon- 40 
soon, January, 1842. — The American seed, consisting 
of New Orleans and Sea Island, was sown in Septem- 
ber. In the following January the crop appeared to 
be a failure. The rains of the north-east monsoon 
had fallen in the beginning of October, and had 
proved heavier than had been known for years ; but 
on the 2nd of November the rains ceased altogether, 
and bright cloudless weather set in. The plants now 
began to wither away ; the leaves gradually changed 
their colour to a dark copper brown and became 
shrivelled, when the branches and bolls began to drop 
off, and the plant either died, or put forth new shoots 
and blossoms which again fell. At this period the 
plants on the Bed soil did better than those on the 
Black. Meantime the Planters took a gloomy view 
of the whole experiment. Mr. Morris ex- Mr Morris>s 
pressed his opinion that New Orleans letter, 22nd 
Cotton never would grow in India. Sea ig« em pSi 
Island might, he thought, be produced Return 
upon the sandy coast, near tide water, so (1847) ' p - 328, 
that the land might be manured with salt mud mixed 
with shells, and enjoy the benefit of the sea breeze. 
As regarded Indian Cotton, Mr. Morris saw no chance 
of improving it ; and he believed that the Native 
mode of cultivation was best adapted to the Native 
plant. 

Sudden renovation of the crop : Dr. Wight succeeds 41 
Captain Hughes, February.-— On the 24th February, 
1842, Dr. Wight succeeded Captain Hughes in the 
Superintendence of the American Plant- 
ers. But meantime a great change had ^t^lrd' 8 
taken place in the crop. The bright May,i842. 
cloudless weather, which had lasted from ^847 
the 2nd November until the 15th of Janu- 
ary, was succeeded by a heavy fall of rain, which had 
the effect of refreshing and greatly reviving the 
plants. A second fall in the beginning of February 
served completely to renovate them ; and when Dr. 
Wight relieved Captain Hughes, they were quite 
healthy and full of blossom and fruit. 



32 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON. 

Relative effects of the Monsoon, the Drought, and 
the Rain upon the Cotton shrub : difference between 
the Red and Black soils.— This great and unexpected 
success is thus accounted for by Dr. Wight. The 
sowing commenced about the middle of September. 
In October, whilst the plants were still young and 
tender, the north-east monsoon commenced, and then 
the plants outgrew their strength. On the 2nd of 
November the bright weather set in, and lasted so 
long, that the plants gradually sickened and drooped, 
until they appeared burnt up. But meantime the 
soft juicy wood previously formed, acquired consist- 
ence and became well matured. The second rains 
supplied the requisite nourishment and stimulus to 
renewed growth, and a new formation of flower-buds. 
Here must be noticed a remarkable difference be- 
tween the effects of the Black and Bed soils respect- 
ively upon the cultivation of the plant. Before the 
second rain in January and February, the Cotton in 
the Red soil appeared to be in the most favourable 
condition ; whilst the Cotton in the Black soil seemed 
to be utterly ruined. After the second rain the state 
of things was exactly the reverse. The plants in the 
Black soil were the most flourishing, whilst those in 
the Bed soil were less productive. Dr. Wight at- 
tributed these results to the different effects of the 
rain upon the two soils. During the first rain the 
Black land caked at the surface, whilst the Bed land 
was more open, and the water drained freely off. 
Here then the plant suffered from the caked surface 
of the Black soil, and profited by the free drainage of 
the Bed soil. But during the drought the plants 
were still sustained in the Black soil, because moisture 
had been retained under the caking. When the 
second rain fell, it ran off the caked Black soil, but 
soaked the plants in the Bed soil to an injurious ex- 
tent: consequently the plants now flourished in the 
Black land, but drooped in the Bed land. These ob- 
servations are worth preserving as illustration of the 
nature of the Cotton plant ; but we shall ultimately 
see that the Black soil was considered less fit than 
the Bed for the American varieties. 



1841-42.] DR. WIGHT AND AMERICAN PLANTERS. 33 



Results of the Season of 1341-42.— The results of 43 
the Cotton experiment for this year may be gathered 
from the following tabular abstract of the extent and 
quantity of the produce of the Government Farms, as 
the matter stood on the 1st of May, 1842. 



Description of 

Son. 


Description of 
Cotton. 


No. of 
Acres. 


Amount of 
produce. 


Average per 
Acre. 


Black Soil . . j 
Bed Soil . . j 




New Orleans 

Indian 
New Orleans 

Indian 


94 
6 
6 

10 


lbs. 
15,923 
1,340 
160 
4,143 


lbs. oz. 
169 6 
223 5 
26 10 
414 4 


Superintend- 
ent's Farm. 

Red Soil .. { 


New Orleans 
Indian 


2 
2 


125 

300 


62 8 
150 






120 


21,991 


183 4 




Deduct for 
wastage, 26 acres 


94 




True average. 
233 14 



Samples of the Cotton were sent home and reported 
on by Messrs. Tetley and Earle of Liverpool ; but no 
judgment could be formed of the quality Parl j^tea 
or value from the small samples sent. (1847), pp. 
The most important feature in the report 348 ' 
of Messrs. Tetley and Earle was, that none of the Cot- 
ton was more cut, and some not cut so much, in the 
process of ginning, as the average American supply. 

Dr. Wight's plan of operations : introduction of 44 
American Culture more important than that of Ame- 
rican Cotton.— Meantime Dr. Wight seems 
to have arrived at the conclusion that the ^teT^h S 
improvement of the Indian and Bourbon March, 1842. 
Cottons was of greater importance than fis^jfp^m 
the introduction of American Cottons. 
Accordingly, during a tour through the Cotton grow- 
ing portions of the Coimbatore district, he had en- 

D 



34 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 



tered into agreements with the Byots. On the one 
hand, he was to pay their rent and part of their agri- 
cultural charges. On the other hand, they were to 
cultivate their own Indian and Bourbon Cottons ac- 
cording to the American system, and also to grow any 
American Cotton seed which he might give them; 
and at the same time they were to give him one half 
of the crop, and the refusal of the other half at mar- 
ket price. To carry these arrangements into effect, 
he proposed to station the three Planters at three dis- 
tinct and pretty distant points, in order that they 
might supervise the cultivation of the rented lands. 
These propositions were approved by the Madras 
Government, and at the commencement of the second 
season we shall see them in full operation.* 

45 Early trials of the American saw gin. — Before the 
close of the first season, the American saw gin, sent 
out by the Court of Directors, had arrived in Madras, 
and been used in Coimbatore instead of the churka, 

but had not turned out perfectly satisfac- 

MteT?3th S tor y* Iij cleaned tne Cotton far more 
June,'i842. thoroughly than the churka ; but not- 
U847)?p!342. withstanding the favourable report of 
Messrs. Tetley and Earle, it certainly so 
far injured the staple, as to render it less suitable to 
the Native spinning. Again, the working of the gin 
was nearly as expensive and infinitely more laborious 
than that of the churka ; as eight strong men turning 
the gin could scarcely clean as much daily as ten or 
twelve feeble old women or children could clean with 
the churka. 

46 Second Season, 1842-43 : arrangement of the four 

Experimental Farms. — The arrangements 
^Wight's already indicated are carried out at the 
American close of the first season. Mr. Hawley the 
Agriculture Planter was transferred to the Bombay 
7th Febru- ' Government, but his place was filled by 

* This plan, as regarded the extension of the American Cotton 
and cultivation amongst the Ryots, proved a failure. See Dr. Wight's 
remarks upon this point at the close of the first period of four years' 
cultivation in Coimbatore, para. 84. 



1842-43.] DR. WIGHT ON AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 35 



Mr. Henry Sherman, a European born ary 5 1843. 
and educated at Madras. Dr. Wight ^^f'm. 
then established one farm at Coorchee, 
two at Coimbatore, and one at Oodoomulcottah, 
thus : — 

Acres. 

Dr. Wight and Mr. Sherman at Coorchee, about 200 
Dr. Wight at Coimbatore, „ 200 

Mr. Simpson at Coimbatore, „ 330 

Mr. Morris at Oodoomulcottah, „ 350 

Three varieties of land, viz. — Black, 47 
Red, and Alluvial.— The four Farms em- J^JjftES 
braced three distinct varieties of soil, Madras 

' Govt., 10th 

VIZ. — Nov., 1843. 

1st. Black Cotton ground. Jiw^vm 

2nd. Eed land, formed from disinte- 
grated granite, and for the most part only a thin stra- 
tum over the subjacent rock. 

3rd. Alluvial land, composed of clay and sand, 
which had formerly been under cultivation, but which 
had been lying waste for many years, probably from 
having attained so high a level as to render irrigation 
difficult. 

Distribution of soil amongst the four Farms : method 48 
of cultivation. — These varieties of soil 
were thus distributed. Dr. Wight and Notel^arf. 
Mr. Sherman's Farm at Coorchee chiefly ^|^ n p 350 
consisted of Alluvial land ; Dr. Wight's ' P " 

Farm at Coimbatore of Eed land ; whilst Mr. Simp- 
son's Farm at Coimbatore, and Mr. Morris' Farm at 
Oodoomulcottah, were chiefly composed of Black Cot- 
ton land, though both included a small portion of Eed 
land. About this time Lord Elphinstone requested 
Dr. Wight to draw up some Notes on the American 
system of agriculture. These Notes are by no means 
complete in themselves, but they are valuable as illus- 
trating the stage at which the Cotton experiment had 
arrived. Accordingly the substance is here exhibited 
in a classified form ; but the practical reader will do 
well to compare them with other results, and espe- 

d 2 



36 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 



eially with the more matured observations of Dr. 
Wight and Mr. Imnie, which will be found in other 
paras, of the present volume.* 

DR. WIGHT'S NOTES ON AMERICAN COTTON CULTURE 
AS PRACTISED ON THE GOVERNMENT COTTON FARMS. 

49 Drill husbandry : land ploughed and cast in ridges, 
eight or ten inches high, at intervals of about five feet. 

— The American system of Cotton agriculture is 
simply Drill husbandry. The ground is ploughed and 
cast into ridges, about four, five, or six feet apart, and 
about eight or ten inches high. The distance between 

these ridges must be regulated by the rich- 
Royie? 6 ness or P over ty of the soil, and by the va- 
Cotton Cui- riety of the Cotton grown. The object is 
2i9. e ' P * 217, *° keep the plants sufficiently near to each 

other, that when full grown the branches 
may meet and cross in the intervals between the 
ridges, and thus protect the soil from the heat and 
drying influence of the sun. Accordingly in rich 
soils the New Orleans Cotton plants may be five feet 
apart, but in the poorer soils they must be nearer to 
each other ; as the branches naturally will not be so 
luxuriant on a poor soil as on a rich one. Then again 
the ridges for Sea Island Cotton may be seven feet 
apart. The primary object of these ridges is to draw 
off the superfluous moisture, by means of the water 
furrow between them ; a precaution which is espe- 
cially necessary in America, where the frequent and 
heavy rains of spring and summer are especially in- 
jurious to the young plant. 

* For Mr. Wroughton's Remarks on the cultivation of American 
Cotton in India, see paras. 67 — 74. For Dr. Wight's " Notes on the 
Habits of the American plant, and their adaptation to the seasons of 
India," see paras. 92 — 118. For Mr. Finnie's 44 Notes on Cotton 
Cultivation in America and India," see paras. 143 — 160. For Mr. 
Finnie's " Notes on the Peculiarities of the Cotton Trade in Tin- 
nevelly," see paras. 175 — 178. For Dr. Wight's Final Report, see 
paras. 263 — 281. As regards Bourbon Cotton, see Mr. Hughes's in- 
structions to Mr. Heath, para. 34, note. 



1842-43.] DR. WIGHT ON AMERICAN CULTURE. 



37 



Sowing in a farrow of about two inches deep along 50 
the centre of each ridge. — In the Farms at Coimba- 
tore the seed is sown thus. A slight furrow, from an 
inch and a half to two inches deep, is run along the 
centre of the ridge with a country plough. The seed is 
then pretty thickly scattered in the furrow, and covered 
in by running over it a small triangular drill harrow. 

Scraping out of superfluous plants and weeds. — 51 
When the plant is three or four inches high, and be- 
ginning to put forth a third or fourth leaf, it is 
thinned or " scraped ; " that is, the greater part of 
the superfluous plants, together with the weeds, are 
scraped out with the hoe. About ten or twelve days 
afterwards this scraping operation is repeated, to 
complete the thinning and superficial cleaning of the 
land. With regard to this hoeing, Dr. Wight re- 
marked that the American plan of scraping was de- 
cidedly inferior to that which he had adopted, viz. — 
that of freely loosening the surface and digging out 
the weeds. Had he not gathered up the grass roots 
as fast as they were dug up with the hoe, they would 
have subsequently grown all the faster. This defect 
in the American system was, however, amply com- 
pensated for by liberal ploughing between the rows. 

Banking up the ridges, first with the plough and 52 
afterwards with the hoe. — When the hoeing has been 
completed, or a few days later, the plant is sufficiently 
advanced to admit of the plough being used between 
the rows. The plough employed is small and light, 
such as can be drawn by a single bullock ; with it a 
light furrow is run within five or six inches of the 
plants, turning the earth inwards towards the roots 
to supply the place of that previously removed by 
scraping. This operation of banking up the roots is 
completed with the hoe. If the soil is foul, and at 
the same time soft enough to be easily worked, the 
ploughing may be repeated several times, the more 
effectually to destroy the weeds. 

Keeping down extraneous vegetation until the crop 53 
ripens. — By the time these various operations are 
completed, the plant is between two and three months 



38 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 

old, and in good soils should be between two and 
three feet in height. The agricultural operations are 
then drawing to a close ; subsequent proceedings 
being mainly confined to keeping down extraneous 
vegetation until the crop begins to ripen. The period 
that elapses from the fall of the flower until the 
bursting of the pod, is from six to eight weeks. The 
sooner the Cotton is picked after the pod bursts the 
better. This system, pursued at Coimbatore, was of 
course a very costly one, as compared with the simple 
and indolent practice pursued by the Natives. 
54 Native ploughs and American ploughs compared ; 
question of whether American Cotton would thrive 
without ridging. — On ploughing and ridging, Dr. 
Wight remarked that the Native ploughing was much 
less perfect than the American ploughing, unless the 
land was gone over several times. Again, the Native 
plough was not adapted to ridging, and Mr. Morris 
considered that the American plant would never 
thrive unless the land was ridged. Dr. Wight, how- 
ever, did not coincide in this opinion ; and tried the 
experiment of doing without ridging, the results of 
which will be found at para. 62. The subject deserved 
attention on account of the great difference of ex- 
pense. The Native plough complete only costs about 
twelve annas, or one shilling and sixpence; and the 
small country cattle, which would suffice to work it, 
could be purchased at from ten rupees to fifteen 
rupees, or 20s. to 30s. per pair. On the other hand, 
the heavy American plough, and the stronger cattle 
required to draw it, would cost for the whole turn 
out, including harness, from seventy to eighty rupees. 
Thus the Native plough and cattle might be pur- 
chased for about twenty or thirty shillings, whilst the 
American turn out would cost from seven to eight 
pounds. 



55 Results of the second Season on the Black, Red, and 
Dr. wight's Alluvial soils, 1842-43.— To return to the 
letter, ioth main narrative. The principal sowing for 



1842-43.] DR. WIGHT AND AMERICAN PLANTERS. 39 



the second season had taken place in Nov., im. 
August md early in September ; but a (^jfjJSS 
small poi fcion was sown as early as July, 
and some as late as October. The season proved un- 
favourable, in consequence of a heavy fall of rain in 
April, in the height of the gathering season. Prior 
to this storm the appearance of the plant on the dif- 
ferent soils was as follows. On the Black lands it 
was generally small. On the Red land it was large 
and very healthy where the soil retained moisture, 
but small where the soil was thin and dried quickly. 
On the Alluvial lands the plants grew luxuriantly 
where the soil was high and drainage sufficient, but 
did not thrive where the soil was low and retentive 
of moisture. In April the weather became stormy, 
and a series of rains commenced which lasted a week. 
These storms not only destroyed the Cotton ready 
for picking, but also the crop which was maturing. 
Indeed within a week or ten days after the rains, 
whole fields were covered with blackened and half- 
opened bolls, with their contents agglutinated into a 
dark brownish decayed mass. The plants, however, 
continued healthy, and began to produce a good crop 
of flowers. They were therefore permitted to remain 
a few months longer, by which means a second crop 
was obtained from the Red lands. 

Comparison of the growth of the Indian, New Or- 56 
leans, and Bourbon Cotton. — The Indian Cotton plant, 
according to Dr. Wight, is of slower growth than the 
American, and takes a deeper root. Consequently, 
this species is not so much affected by the heat and 
drought, until the soil becomes so far cracked as to 
allow of evaporation from the deeper strata, and thus 
serves to exhaust the stores of nourishment on which 
the plant had previously subsisted. The Indian Cotton 
therefore thrives well on the Black lands, which possess 
a wet or tenacious sub-soil, but which at the same 
time readily throws off its surface moisture. The 
American Cotton, not penetrating so deeply into the 
soil, thrives best on the low-lying portions of the Red 
land, towards which the moisture of the upper ones is 



40 COTTON IE" THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [3RD SEASON. 



drawn ; and again it thrives well in the Alluvial soils, 
which from their position are naturally loaded with 
moisture. # The Bourbon again takes very deep root, 
and bears the climate even better than the Indian 
plant. 

57 Reports of English Brokers on Dr. Wight's Cotton. — 

General let ~^ ie P roceec ^ n g s °f Wight received the 
terfrom the approval of the Court of Directors. About 
ri°ck>rs 0f 2nd bales of Cotton grown this year were 

Oct., 1844. sent home, and after a careful examination 
^1847)^370! °f ^ ne packages the following opinions were 
expressed by the Brokers. 

58 Oopum (Indian) Cotton. — The staple (about 62 
bales) considered to be very short and wild, but beau- 
tifully clean and white. No difference was discovered 
in the quality of this Cotton, whether produced on the 
Black, Bed, or Alluvial soil. 

59 New Orleans. — The staple (about 144 bales) was 
pronounced much better than the Oopum, being longer 
and finer, less cut with the gin, the greater part clean 
and of good colour, but not so white as the Oopum. 
Some variations were found in the ~New Orleans with 
reference to the soil in which it was produced ; that 
from the Black soil having the preference, the Eed 
next, and the Alluvial the last. This Cotton averaged 
the usual price of the New Orleans in bond. 

60 Bourbon. — The staple (about 6 bales) was found 
much superior to either of the other, being longer and 
finer. Being, however, partially injured in cleaning, and 
containing many white specks or knitters, a mixture 
which is considered very objectionable, the sale prices 
did Dot exceed those of the New Orleans. 

61 Third Season, 1843-44 : state of the Cotton Farms, 
Gins, and Gin-house. — The results of the third season 
Dr. Wight's of the Cotton experiment at Coimbatore 
M&y!im. were na turally expected to turn out better 
ParL Return than those of any former years. The 
Despitch 838 * Farms were in a better state of prepara- 
from Court tion, and Dr. Wight and the Planters were 

* This opinion was subsequently modified. The excessive moisture 
was found to stimulate the growth of the stem, branches, and leaves, 
at the expense of the flowers, fruit, and seed. See para. 94. 



1843-44.] BR. WIGHT AND AMERICAN PLANTERS. 



41 



in a position to profit by the experience of 29th i ju? ors * 
two seasons ; and moreover they had more 1842. ibid, 
or less manured their land by ploughing in ® d ' 
the old stalks. The saw gins sent out had Madras Go- 
required alterations and additions, but they 9^™^;' 
were now placed in good working order 1842. ibid. p. 
under the direction of Mr. Petrie, an En- Dr.' Wight's 
gineer who had been sent out from Eng- 
land expressly to work the gins and to 1843. ibid.' 
superintend the repair of the machinery, gpatchfrom 
A Colaba press had also been forwarded in {? e V( ^ r adras 
the place of an Atlas press, which had not mentTeth 
been found to work so well as had been 18 |f • 

expected. 

Unfavourable results: their causes. — The results 62 
however of this season were unfavourable, both as re- 
garded the crop and the proportion of wool nr. Wight's 
to seed. Dr. Wight ascribed the failure to xlov?mber h 
two causes : — 1st, To the circumstance that 1844. ibid. 'p. 
the abundance of rain brought by the north- 871 " 
east monsoon had fallen within too short a period, and 
had been followed by a long period of dry weather ; and 
2nd, To the American system of ridging, which created 
a deep water furrow on each side of the row of plants, 
and thus in dry seasons drained the water too rapidly 
off the lands. This latter idea had already been made 
the subject of experiment. At an early gee ^ ^ 
period Dr. Wight had not considered that ee P ara - 
American ridging was suitable to an Indian climate. 
Accordingly during the second year he had tried the 
effect of sowing on level ground ; but then the season 
had been unusually wet, and the ridging would have 
served to carry off the water. In the third year he 
had reverted to the ridging ; but then the season had 
turned out unusually dry, and the ridging drained the 
land too rapidly, and in fact proved worse than the 
level method. The real cause of the failure appears to 
have been the exhaustion of the soil, and the necessity 
for a rotation of crops. However this subject will be 
discussed further on. 

Comparison of the crops of the third Season with G3 
those of the second. — The difference in the out-turn of 



42 COTTON IN THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [4-TH SEASON. 



the second and third seasons, as regarded the propor- 
tion of Cotton produced to the extent of acreage, may 
be thus exhibited. 

2nd Season, 1842-43. Srd Season, 1843-44. 

Acreage 910J acres. 1,090 acres. 

Seed produced 207,632 lbs. 177,126 lbs. 
Average per acre 228 lbs. 162 \ lbs. 

The proportion of wool obtained from the season in 
two different years is shown in the following table, 
which exhibits the proportion of wool obtained from 
100 lbs. of Cotton seed. 

2nd Season, Srd Season. 

New Orleans 29^ lbs. 27f lbs. 

Bourbon 26 „ 26i „ 

Oopum (Indian) 22f „ 23i „ 

64 Fourth Season, 1844-45 : experiment of treating the 
plant as a biennial. — Hitherto Dr. Wight had treated 
the Cotton plant as an annual ; that is, he had annually 
rooted out the old plants of the preceding year, and 
then resown the ground. He found however that the 
Bourbon variety was constantly treated as a biennial in 
India,* as was also the Sea Island in Egypt. Accord- 
ingly he proposed to try the experiment with New 
Orleans Cotton, of pruning the plants nearly down to the 
ground, and leaving the roots to yield a crop of fresh 
Para ii7 wo °d for the second year. By this method, 

he believed that during the second year the 
roots would penetrate much deeper into the ground 
than they did the first. The roots would thus pass 
into an unexhausted soil, and would therefore be better 
nourished; whilst a considerable saving would be 
effected in the expenses of cultivation during the 
second year. This experiment however ultimately 
Dr Wi ht's turned out a failure. This fourth season 
letter, ?6th is chiefly remarkable for having produced a 
Pari' Return mucn larger and finer seed, which again 
(1847), p. 402. produced from three to three and a half 
per cent, more of Cotton wool. 

65 Comparative produce of the four Seasons. — The 
average produce per acre of the four successive crops 
of Cotton, obtained during the four years 1842, 1843, 

* See foot note to para. 34. 



1844-45.] DR. WIGHT AND AMERICAN PLANTERS. 43 



1844, and 1845, is exhibited in the follow- 
ing table. It must however be borne in 
mind that the crops included all kinds of 
Cotton, — Native, Bourbon, and New Or- 
leans ; and that the figures represent the 
number of pounds of seed Cotton which 
were obtained per acre. 



Dr. Wight's 
Remarks on 
Cotton Cul- 
tivation in 
India, 1st 
Sept., 1845. 
Pari. Re- 
turn (1847), 
p. 391. 



Farms. 



1. Super- 
intendent's 
Farm, Coim- 
batore. 



2. Mr. Simp- 
son's Farm, 
Coimbatore. 



3. Mr. Mor- 
ris's Farm, 
Coorchee.* 



4. Mr. Sher- 
man's Farm, 
Oodoomul- 
cottah. 



1841-42 

Average 
peracre. 



233 



1842-43 

Average 
peracre. 



140, 



2001 



207f 



1843-44 

Average 
per acre. 



1251 



72; 



199* 



234 



1844-45 

Average 
peracre. 



105J 



136, 



229 



Cotton grown. 



L Principally 
American and 
Bourbon ; soil for 
the most part very 
poor, and gener- 
ally shallow and 
unsuitable. 

2. Principally 
American and 
some Indian 
(Oopum) ; soil 
generally Black, 
but of very infe- 
rior quality. 

3. Principally 
American, some 
Bourbon and 
Oopum ; soil Al- 
luvial but poor, 
being apparently 
exhausted by the 
first very luxuri- 
ant crop. 

4. First and 
second seasons, 
principally Ame- 
rican ; third sea- 
son, mostly Oo- 
pum, which ac- 
counts for the 
high average out- 
turn of the third 
crop ; soil Black, 
and generally of 
the best quality of 
that sort of land. 



In consequence of bad health on the part of Mr. Morris at the 



44 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 

16 General result of the four Seasons of the experi- 
mental Farms: necessity for a rotation of crops.— The 

four successive seasons of experiments fully established 
the necessity for a methodical rotation of crops. The 
hrst year the Farm at Coimbatore produced a larger 
crop than the second, notwithstanding a great propor- 
tion was destroyed by the stormy weather. Again, 
the second season produced a larger crop than the 
third, though the ground had not been so well prepared. 
Ihis conclusion was further strengthened by an experi- 
ment made by Mr. Wroughton the Collector at Coim- 
batore At the commencement of the fourth season 
Mr. Wroughton had selected a field at Ootacamund 
which possessed no peculiarity of soil, but which had 
not been cultivated for many years. This field was 
ploughed by the Natives in the Native fashion, but 
sown and cultivated according to the American method. 
Ihe situation derived but little advantage from the 
climate for though it participated in the benefits of 
both the south-west and north-east monsoons, yet 
during that season both monsoons were unusually 
light. The result, however, was a crop averaging 
nearly 1100 lbs. per acre, of which the greater part 
proved to be of excellent quality. This extraordinary 
out-turn far exceeded anything which Dr. Wight and 
his Planters had been able to obtain, with all their 
labour and pains in cultivation. Accordingly Dr. 
Wight determined on removing his Farms and culti- 
vating fresh soil. 

Causes of the success of Mr. Wroughton's Cotton 
experiment.— Before proceeding further, it may be as 
well to remark that, in the latter part of 1842, Lord 
Elphmstone had been succeeded by the Marquis of 
Tweeddale, as Governor of the Madras Presidency. 

Co^ U uftL° f The Mar( l? is of Tweeddale is well known 
tion,2nd as a practical agriculturist, and naturally 

Parf Return to °k a dee P P ersonal interest in the culti- 
(1847 j, p. 407. vation of Cotton in this Presidency. Ac- 
latter part of the second season, 1842-43, he exchanged Farms with 
Mr. Sherman. Thus Mr. Morris became located at Coorchee, and 
Mr. bherman at Oodoomulcottah. 



1844-45.] ME. WBOUGHTON's SUCCESSFUL CULTURE. 45 



eordingly, the Madras Government at once called 
upon Mr. Wroughton, to explain the circumstances 
which led him to select the particular lands ; as well 
as the cost and method of his culture, with any 
particulars which would serve to illustrate the causes 
of his success. Mr. Wroughton ascribed 
his success generally to two conditions, fo^Ser'' 
w^hich he considered to be absolutely es- andmemo- 
sential in the cultivation of American Cot- gthlrune 
ton ; namely, the influence of the two mon- 1846. Pari, 
soons, and the effect of an earlier sowing (is47) r , p. m 
than is practised by the Natives. 

1st. Influence of both monsoons.— The peculiar influ- 68 
ence of both monsoons has already been described; as 
well as the physical formation of the West- gee ^ 7 
ern Ghauts, through which the south-west ee P ara - 
monsoon rushes at intervals, and thus affords certain 
tracts of country the benefit of both monsoons. This is 
I the case at Courtallumin Tinnevelly ; it is also the case 
over a very large tract of country at the Paulghaut- 
cherry Pass in the district of Coimbatore; and it 
appears also to be the case in the neighbourhood of 
Ootacamund. In this particular Mr. Wrought on en- 
joyed an advantage over Dr. Wight. The Farms of 
Coimbatore were shut out from the south-west rains 
by ranges of hills which attracted the clouds. Mr. 
Wroughton however chose the neighbourhood of Oota- 
camund, where the country enjoyed the benefit of both 
monsoons. Here he selected an inferior land on pur- 
pose ; inasmuch as waste lands of the same quality 
prevail to an extent out of all proportion to the better 
and more expensive kinds, and he was naturally anxious 
to ascertain if a profitable return could be secured 
from such a soil ; and, as we have already seen, the 
out-turn which followed exceeded his most sanguine 
expectations. 

2nd. Early preparation and sowing. — As regarded 69 
season, Mr. Wroughton remarked that the Native 
mode of culture was defective. The Byots invariably 
sowed their lands in October, and consequently the 
tender plants were withered by the north-east winds, 



46 COTTON IN THE MADE AS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 

and yielded only a stunted shrub and scanty produce. 
He, on the other hand, ploughed his land in March and 
April, and then left it fallow until the end of July, 
when advantage was taken of any south-west rain that 
might fall, to run the plough lightly over the land once 
more, and then to commence sowing. The sowing, 
however, should not take place before the end of July. 
Then the seed germinates, and the plant struggles 
against the south-west rains, gaining root without 
vegetating too much. Care, however, should be taken 
not to be too late, as too much rain would prove as pre- 
judicial as too little. Meantime the process of weeding 
and thinning ought to be carried on intermediately, and 
be repeated occasionally. By this mode the plants will 
acquire so great a degree of hardiness, as to be pre- 
pared for any change ; and the showers previous to the 
north-east monsoon, and the rains which fell during 
its continuance, will produce a good-sized plant about 
three feet high, and yielding from 200 to 250 bolls. 

Drought and Grate the only dangers to be avoided. 
— The only evils which Mr. Wroughton had found 
occasion to dread were the drought and gi^ate. If the 
grate entered the boll without being observed, it gradu- 
ally consumed the seed ; but this evil could be avoided 
by sufficient vigilance. The insect never attacks the 
boll until the seed is ripe. Consequently, if its en- 
trance be observed, the boll may be at once pulled off 
and dried in the sun. Then the grate dies immediately, 
whilst the bolls progress nearly as well on the ground 
as on the tree. 

Question of Manure. — As regarded manure, Mr. 
Wroughton had discovered that it should not be ap- 
plied to land in the same year that Cotton was culti- 
vated upon it. In fact, he was very doubtful whether 
manure was required at all, as deep ploughing often 
repeated seemed to effect all that was needful. 

2 Three advantages possessed by India over America 
in the cultivation of American Cotton. — Mr. Wrough- 
ton further remarked that three advantages were pos- 
sessed by his district over America in the cultivation 
of American Cotton ; viz. — 1st, There were fewer con- 



1844-45.] MR. WROUGHTOtf's SUCCESSFUL CULTURE. 47 

tingencies to guard against ; 2ndly, The soil was more 
congenial ; and, 3rdly, Labour was much cheaper. 
On the first point he stated that whilst the Indian 
cultivator had only two evils to dread, the drought 
and the grate, the American cultivator had six con- 
tigencies to guard against ; namely, the rot, the rust, 
the caterpillar, the frost, and storms of wind and rain. 
On the second point he stated that his land at Oota- 
: camund had yielded nearly 1200 lbs. of seed Cotton 
per acre, which would give 350 lbs. of clean Cotton 
wool ; whilst the average crop of the best soils in 
; America was only 400 lbs. of clean Cotton wool per 
acre. But even granting that the productive power 
of the American soil was superior, still the cheapness 
of labour in India would enable the cultivator to pro- 
; duce much cheaper Cotton. In India the cultivation 
; was peculiarly a family undertaking ; little children 
: plucking the Cotton, after a little practice, as well as 
the women. 

Remunerative demand alone required in India.— 73 

; Mr. Wroughton summed up his remarks by stating 
that nothing was now required in India but a remu- 
nerative demand to stimulate the Ryots to the growth 

i of Cotton. For many years the cultivation had been 

i exceedingly neglected. Rarely had any attempt been 
made to produce it as a single crop. In most cases 

I the seed was sown with three or four other kinds of 
grain, and where it was sown alone, the land was in- 
sufficiently prepared. Indeed the successful and pro- 
fitable culture of Cotton required the investment of 
more capital and harder labour than was encouraged 
by local circumstances and existing prices. 

Cost of cultivation. — As regarded the cost of culti- 74 
vation, Mr. Wroughton exhibited the following tables, 

; exhibiting the amount of charges incurred at Ootaca- 
mund on twenty-two cawnies, or about thirty acres 

I of land ; from which it will be seen that more than 
25,000 lbs. of seed Cotton, producing nearly 7000 lbs. 
of wool, were obtained at a cost of £32. 



48 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 

Memorandum of charges incurred for the cultiva- 
tion of Cotton at Ootacamund, from 1st July, 1844, 
to 30th June, 1845. 





£ 


s. 


d. 


Assessment of about thirty acres of 








cowle lands 


2 


8 




Charges for ploughing lands 


2 


8 





do. for weeding 


2 


5 


2 


do. for gathering produce 


7 12 




do. for taking out uncleaned Cot- 








ton at Coimbatore 


5 


16 


2 


Grinning and packing 


2 


19 


Yalue of gunny bags purchased for Cot- 








ton bales, &c. 


4 


3 


8 


Yalue of ropes for Cotton bales, &c. 





15 


9 


Hire for sewing gunny bags 





8 


' 2 


do. for conveying Cotton on carts 


1 


12 


6 


Pay of a cooly 


1 


4 


3 


Yalue of bamboo mats 





3 





do. of a large bamboo basket 





2 





Total £32 





10 



Memorandum, showing the quantity of Cotton 
staple and seed produced in the field near Ootaca- 
mund from 18th July, 1844, to 30th June, 1845. 

Bales. lbs. 

Cotton wool, 1st Sort . . . . 17 4250 

2nd „ .... 5 1250 

3rd „ .... 5£ 1375 

Total 27J 6875 

Aggregate produce seed Cotton in lbs. 25,450 

75 Further proceedings of the Fourth Season, 1844-45. 

— Two other events fall into the history of the fourth 
season. In the first place, Mr. Simpson, one of the 
Planters, reported on the capabilities of the district 
of ISTorth Canara for the production of American Cot- 
ton. Secondly, Dr. Wight, in reply to some queries 



1844-45.] MR. SIMPSON ON NORTH CANARA. 



49 



furnished this year by the Marquis of Tweeddale, en- 
tered more at detail into the character and prospects 
of the Cotton experiments in Coimbatore. These cir- 
cumstances will be considered in order. 

Mr, Simpson's report on the districts of North Ca- 76 
nara, bordering on Bharwar. — In July, Mr gim 
1844, Mr. Simpson was directed to proceed son's letter, 
to Sirsee in North Canara on the western |oth Sept^ 
side of the Madras Presidency, for the Return 
purpose of reporting on the suitability of ( 1847 )>p- 3 78- 
the soil and climate in the Soondah and Soopah ta- 
looks for the cultivation of New Orleans Cotton. 
These talooks bordered on the Cotton-growing dis- 
trict of Dharwar in the Bombay Presidency, where 
New Orleans Cotton appears to have been cultivated 
with considerable success. Accordingly, Dr. Wight 
considered that these localities on the very borders of 
Bharwar would prove equally well adapted for the 
American variety. 

Soondah : unfavourable from the presence of i 4 Eun- 77 
kur." — Mr. Simpson considered that the soil of Soon- 
dah was on the whole unfavourable ; there being in 
its composition too much disintegrated laterite rock, 
called by the Natives " Kunkur." Some lands, how- 
ever, were free from this objection, and might yield 
remunerative crops. 

Soopah: soil favourable but climate unfavourable. 78 
— In the Soopah talook, Mr. Simpson thought that 
some of the land about Mundgood and Hullial was 
favourable to the growth of Cotton ; but such lands, 
he said, could not be easily obtained ; and the few 
that were available were covered with such immense 
tufts of grass, that they could not be easily prepared. 
Moreover the climate during the period of culture, 
viz. from August to the end of March, was not fa- 
vourable, as a cold wind prevailed which would pro- 
bably prove injurious to young plants. A climate to 
suit Cotton ought, in his opinion, to be quiet, moist, 
and moderately warm. Again, the labouring people 
in the district were chiefly emigrants, who came up 
from the country on special contracts and then re- 



50 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 

turned home. Altogether he doubted whether Cot- 
ton would grow in Soopah. The talook, it was true, 
bordered on the Cotton-growing district of Dharwar, 
yet it differed both in climate and soil ; and that part 
of the Dharwar district which adjoined the Soopah 
and Soondah talooks for some miles inward, was not 
under Cotton culture, as the Natives considered that 
the soil partook too much of the nature of the Soon- 
dah country. 

79 Mr. Simpson's opinion on the failure of the Co- 
imbatore Farms to extend the culture of American 
Cotton. — Mr. Simpson next discussed the general 
question. Assuming that the ulterior object of the 
experiment was to introduce the American seed and 
machinery amongst the Eyots, he considered that 
operations should be commenced in some of the 
known Cotton-growing districts in the Madras Presi- 
dency, rather than in unknown soils like those of 
Canara. Again, he considered that whilst the Ameri- 
can system and general management of the Coimba- 
tore Farms might test the fitness or unfitness of the 
soil and climate of that region, yet they would never 
induce the Natives to adopt the same system of cul- 
ture. Indeed the Eyots seemed frightened at the 
immense establishment at Coimbatore. They never 
would regard the Planters as cultivators like them- 
selves ; but rather looked upon the experiment as 
some public work undertaken by the Sirkar, which 
they could not understand, and in which they had no 
concern. 

80 Recommended the appointment of a practical per- 
son to distribute seed and exhibit the gins. — Accord- 
ingly Mr. Simpson proposed the appointment of 
some practical person to distribute American Cotton 
seed amongst the Ryots, and to exhibit the working 
of small-sized saw gins, and dispose of them as oppor- 
tunities arose. He quoted the success of Mr. Mercer, 
a Planter located in Dharwar, who had already dis- 
posed of six saw gins to the Natives in the Southern 
Mahratta country. He urged that the cost of such 
an establishment would be trifling in comparison with 



1844-45.] NEW OPERATIONS PROPOSED. 



51 



the sums expended on the experimental Farms at 
Coimbatore. Finally, he recommended the Bellary 
district, in the neighbourhood of Hurryhur, as the 
best locality for commencing the operations he had 
indicated. 

Approval of Mr. Simpson's suggestions : Minutes of 81 
his transfer to the Bombay Presidency. — Consuita- 
The Marquis of Tweeddale seems to have December, 
entirely approved of the suggestions of ^tum r1 ' 
Mr. Simpson, and so also did the Court of (i847),p.382: 
Directors. Circumstances, however, ap- fromCourt 
pear to have interfered with his being of Directors, 
located in Bellary, and his services were i845?ibid. p. 
transferred to the Government of Bombay. 384. 

Dr. Wight's answers to the queries of the Marquis 82 
of Tweeddale. — In September, 1845, the Marquis of 
Tweeddale submitted several queries to ^ M , g 
Dr. Wight respecting the cost of the Cot- letter, 29th 8 
ton experiment at Coimbatore, the supe- f^^p^i' 
riority of the American to the Native Return 
Cotton, the extension of the improved ( 1847 )>p- S87 - 
methods of cultivation among the Eyots, and the 
adoption of the saw gins by the Natives. The re- 
turn of expenditure was so very imperfect that it 
need not be produced here. On the three other 
points, however, Dr. "Wight supplied the following 
information. 

Superiority of the American Cotton to the Indian. 83 

— As regards the superiority of American Cotton to 
the Indian, Dr. Wight reported that the American 
was about 20 per cent, more valuable than the Indian, 
or nearly as 5d. is to 3f d. Again, the American seed 
produced from *1\ to 9 per cent, more Cotton wool 
than the Indian seed; in other words, 100 lbs. of 
American seed yielded from 28^ lbs. to 30 lbs. of 
clean Cotton wool, whilst 100 lbs. of Indian seed only 
yielded about 21 lbs. of clean Cotton wool. 

Extension of the improved methods of cultivation 84 
among the Ryots. — Upon this point Dr. Wight's re- 
port was not satisfactory. He had introduced the 
American mode of cultivating and cleaning, to the ex- 

e 2 



52 COTTON IN TEE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 



tent of having invariably carried it out himself. Very- 
few of the Natives, however, had followed his ex- 
ample. He had offered them American seed to any 
extent ; he had invited them to cultivate for him ; he 
had even engaged to purchase the produce of the 
foreign seed until its market price could be ascer- 
tained. # But still the Natives hung back from adopt- 
ing either the American seed or the American cul- 
ture. A few Ryots promised to cultivate to a small 
extent, but none seemed anxious to commence. Even 
the Eyots who cultivated Mr. Wroughton's field, — 
which yielded a clear profit of 700 rupees, after de- 
ducting a liberal sum for agricultural charges and 
ginning, — all held back from cultivating the foreign 
seed for themselves ; apparently on the supposition 
that the profitable result in that case was merely 
owing to extreme good luck, and that they had no 
hope of being equally fortunate. 
85 Reluctance of the Eyots to adopt the saw gin. — 
As regarded ginning, equal facilities had been held 
out to the Eyots. They had been invited to ex- 
amine the whole process, and had been asked to com- 
pare the Cotton cleaned by the gin with that cleaned 
by the churka. Moreover the economy of the gin as 
compared with that of the churka had been pointed 
out. But still there were obstacles, and weighty 
ones, against the adoption of the gins by the Natives. 
It involved the necessity of bringing from distant 
villages to the gin house nearly three bullock loads of 

* The price offered by Dr. "Wight for American Cotton appears to 
have been first 20 Rupees (or £2) and afterwards 15 Rupees (or 
305.) per candy (500 lbs.) for clean and well-picked seed Cotton; 
the ordinary price of Indian seed Cotton as it comes from the field 
averaging about 12 Rupees (or 24s.) per candy. Dr. Wight how- 
ever argued that Government would be a gainer rather than a loser 
by their purchases ; for not only would the New Orleans Cotton 
fetch a higher price in England, but one candy of wool could be ob- 
tained from 3 \ candies of seed, whilst 4J candies of Native seed were 
required to produce one candy of wool when cleaned by the gin. 
Compare Dr. Wight's letter, 13th November, 1844, Parliamentary 
Return (1847), p. 371, with despatch from the Court of Directors, 
8th October, 1845, Ibid. p. 384. See also Dr. Wight's letter, 1st 
September, 1845, Parliamentary Return (1847), p. 392. 



1844-45.] RELUCTANCE OF THE RYOTS. 



53 



heavy seed Cotton to be ginned, in the place of one 
bullock load of light wool. Again, the Natives urged 
that they lost two per cent, more by the gin than they 
did by the churka ; in other words, that two per cent, 
of the impurities, which remained in the churkaed 
Cotton, were removed by the gin. Unless, therefore, 
higher prices were realized for ginned Cotton than 
for churkaed Cotton, the Native cultivators would be 
positive losers by the improved method of cleaning. 



CHAPTEE III. 



EOTJE YEABS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER 
DR. WIGHT IN COIMBATORE, 1845 TO 1849. 

(86.) Position of the Cotton experiment in 1845. — (87.) New arrange- 
ments. — (88.) Mr. Morris reports unfavourably of Bellary : his death. — 
(89.) Mr. Finnie reports unfavourably of the Madras district : despatched 
to Tinnevelly. — (90.) Dr. Wight's new Cotton Farms in Coinibatore, 
1845: four points neglected in the previous experiments. — (91.) Eesults 
of four successive seasons on the new Farm, 1845-49. — (92.) Suggestions 
of the Manchester Association respecting sowing in May and on low soils. 
— (93.) Dr. Wight's reply : First, July is the best time for sowing. — 
(94.) Second, Low Alluvial soils have proved a failure, but low lands near 
the coast are under trial. 

DR. WIGHT'S NOTES ON THE ADAPTATION OF THE AMERICAN PLANT 
TO THE SEASONS OF INDIA. 

(95.) Habits of the American plant. — (96.) Four Seasons of the 
American plant. — (97.) Adaptation of the habits of the American plant to 
the Indian seasons. — (98.) First, Seasons on the eastern side, under the 
north-east monsoon. — (99.) Monthly mean temperature and mean falls 
of rain in the Carnatic. — (100.) Cotton cultivation under the north-east 
monsoon : sowing in September. — (101.) Second, Seasons on the western 
side, under the south-west monsoon. — (102.) Cotton cultivation under the 
south-west monsoon: sowing in May. — (103.) Third, Intermediate re- 
gions under both the north-east and south-west monsoons. — (104.) Cot- 
ton cultivation under both monsoons : sowing in July. — (105.) Large 
experiment in early sowing throughout the Cotton districts in the Madras 
Presidency. — (106.) First Result : India not too hot but too cold.— (107.) 
Theory confirmed by a comparison of the temperature of Madras with that 
of Vera Cruz, Mobile, and Natchez. — (108.) Rising temperature in Ame- 
rica, but diminishing temperature in India, during the growing seasons. — 
(109.) Second result: Carnatic not too dry, confirmed by a comparison of 
mean falls of rain — (110.) Two methods of cultivating American Cotton 
in India : adaptation of seasons and artificial irrigation. — (111.) Experi- 
ments in irrigation, securing a rising temperature to the growing plant. — 
(112.) Five practical suggestions. — (113.) First, Choice of soil. — (114.) 
Second, Preparation of the land for the seed. — (115.) Third, Ploughing 
and hoeing during the growing season. — (116.) Fourth, Distance between 
the Eows. — (117.) Fifth, Treatment of the plant as an Annual, and 
rotation of crops. — (118.) Profitablj cultivation of American Cotton 
throughout the Peninsula. 



1845-49.] DR. WIGHT'S TOUR TEARS IN COIMBATORE. 55 



(119.) Plans for extending the American Cotton culture amongst the 
Ryots, 1845-49.— (120.) Court of Directors order 6000 hales of East 
Indian Cotton, 1845. — (121.) Proposition for reducing the Assessment of 
lands under American Cotton cultivation. — (122.) Marquis of Tweeddale 
in favour of the remission. — (123.) Court of Directors decide against the 
remission. — (124.) Failure of the purchase system as regarded American 
Cotton. — (125.) Contemplated establishment of a number of small Farms. 



Position of the Cotton experiment in 1845. — Five 86 
years had now elapsed since the American planters had 
first landed at Madras, and commenced their operations 
in Tinnevelly nnder the superintendence of Captain 
Hughes. Of this period four seasons of experimental 
Cotton Culture had been carried on at Coimbatore, 
entirely under the superintendence of Dr. Wight, with 
the exception of a few months at the commencement of 
the first season. The results, as regard the Minute by 
fitness of the soil and climate of Coimba- t ^| g M ^" 
tore for the cultivation of American Cot- Tweeddale, 
ton, have been duly set forth in the pre- ?845°Pari. 
ceding chapter. No progress however, Return 
worthy of the name, had been made in ^ 1847) ' p * m 
extending the American culture and American ma- 
chinery amongst the Natives. This subject led to 
much discussion. The Marquis of Tweeddale's Govern- 
ment proposed the abandonment of the Cotton Farms 
at Coimbatore altogether; and suggested that opera- 
tions, like those suggested by Mr. Simpson, should be 
carried on by the Planters themselves ; as practical 
men, capable of gaining the confidence of the Natives, 
and of placing before them in the clearest light the 
superiority of American Cotton, and the improved 
methods of cultivating the plant and cleaning the wool. 
Ultimately it was decided that both plans should be 
carried out ; that Dr. Wight should continue his ex- 
perimental Farming operations in Coimbatore, whilst 
the Planters should carry on independent operations in 
Bellary and Tinnevelly. 

New arrangements. — The necessity for a rotation of 87 
crops having been fully proved, Dr. Wight found it 
necessary to remove his Farms in Coimbatore to new 
soil. Before however noticing his operations, it i3 



56 COTTON IN THE MAD HAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. Ill, 



advisable to glance at the proceedings of the Planters. 

Mr. Simpson had been transferred to the 
Stte^from Bombay Government, bnt his place was 
Geor eNth supplied by another American Planter 
Dec!? 1845. 1 named Pinnie, who had been previously 
Ette^fsrd 3 employed by the Bengal Government. 
Sept., 1845. Accordingly, Mr. Morris was despatched 
as47) R p?38T northwards to report upon the district of 

Bellary ; and Mr. Pinnie was despatched 
eastwards to report upon the district of Madras. 

88 Mr. Morris reports unfavourably of Bellary : his 
death. — Mr. Morris reached Bellary in October, 1845, 
Mr. Morris's an< ^ examined the Cotton lands in the neigh- 
letter, 27th bourhood of the town of Bellary, and those 
24th Bet, i n the talook of Adonie, about forty-three 
Return* 1 * 1 ' m ^ es eastward of Bellary. He reported 
(1847), pp. that the soil was Black, and therefore un- 
413, 414. suited to the growth of American Cotton, 
which had thrived best on the E-ed lands. Again, the 
New Orleans Cotton requires a sea breeze, but there was 
no sea breeze in Bellary. He next proceeded to the 
Cotton-growing district of Dharwar in the Bombay 
Presidency, and there he found that the soil and cli- 
mate were far better adapted to the growth of Ame- 
rican Cotton than the climate and soil of Bellary, 
Mr. Morris however remarked that the Indian Cotton 
grown in Bellary was superior to the same Cotton in 
Dharwar. He therefore proposed that a saw gin should 
be erected in Bellary. The suggestion was approved 
by the Madras Government, but not carried out. Mr. 
Morris died at Bellary on the 18th March, 1846. 

89 Mr. Pinnie reports' unfavourably of the Madras dis- 
trict : despatched to Tinnevelly. — Meantime Mr. Pinnie 

had been despatched to the eastern coast, 
Mr. Finnie's to Pullicarnv in the Madras district. His 

letter, 6th , J r ii tt i» j 

Oct., 1845. report was unfavourable. He had gone 

as^)fpS over P ullicarn .7 with Mr - Maltby the Col- 
lector, and found that all the high land was 
a barren waste, and that all the low land was under 
water. Accordingly Mr. Pinnie was directed to pro- 
ceed to the district of Tinnevelly in the South, and to 



1845-49.] DR. WIGHTS E0TJR YEARS IK COIMBATORE. 57 

carry out operations there. Here it will be advisable 
to leave him, and return to Dr. Wight at Coimbatore. 
Indeed, the story of the proceedings of the next four 
years, that is, from 1845 to 1849, naturally divides it- 
self into two parts ; and therefore the present chapter 
will comprise a narrative of Dr. Wight's operations in 
Coimbatore, whilst the succeeding chapter will contain 
a similar narrative of Mr. Finnie's proceedings in Tin- 
nevelly. 

Br. Wight's New Cotton Farms in Coimbatore, 90 
1845: four points neglected in the previous experi- 
ments. — During the four years that Dr. Wight and 
the American Planters had been carrying ^. ^ 
on the experimental culture at Coimbatore, letter, 26th S 
four points had been neglected, which how- ^n. 1849. 
ever were now duly apprehended : viz. — turn (1857), 

1st. The necessity for a rotation of crops. p * 185, 

2nd. The fertilizing effect of repeated ploughing 
prior to sowing. 

3rd. The influence of both monsoons. 

4th. The superiority of Brown Sandy Loams (Eed 
lands) for American Cotton. 

As regards the first and second points, the Native 
method of cultivation had been superior to that pur- 
sued by Dr. Wight. The Natives never drew two 
consecutive crops of Cotton from the same land ; and 
therefore were enabled to commence ploughing with the 
May rains, a process which they termed cooling the 
ground ; and thus they succeeded in getting their lands 
into a good condition before the commencement of the 
sowing season in October. Dr. Wight, on the other 
hand, had been cultivating the same lands every year ; . 
and consequently his picking season was going on 
when he ought to have been ploughing ; and thus he 
was deprived of the benefit of the best part of the rains, 
and compelled to sow in what the Natives called " hot " 
ground. As regarded the third point, his Farms had 
been shut out from the south-west moonsoon by ranges 
of hills ; and accordingly had no rain from May till 
October. Again, his Farms had been situated at such 
( a distance from the east coast that the north-east 



58 COTTOK 1*8 THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. III. 

rains were short and scanty, and the north-east monsoon 
was cold and dry, being unmoistened by the sea. As 
regards the fourth point, Dr. Wight had now discovered 
that the Sandy Brown Loams, generally included under 
the head of Red land, were better adapted to the 
growth of American Cotton than the ordinary Black 
Cotton soil. He had never obtained more than 300 lbs. 
of seed Cotton per acre from the Black lands, whilst 
he had repeatedly obtained 500 lbs., and once 1000 lbs., 
from the Sandy Brown Loams ; and indeed it was 
from this latter soil that Mr. Wroughton had once 
obtained 1100 lbs. per acre. 

Eesults of four successive seasons on a new Farm, 
1845-49. — Under the circumstances mentioned above, 
Dr. Wight removed to a locality, about ten miles to 
the south of his old Farm, and to a spot which was 
out of the influence of the hills, and consequently open 
to the south-west monsoon. The results of the four 
seasons may be stated in a few words. During 1845-46, 
one field which he ploughed in May, and which con- 
sequently was well prepared for sowing in July, pro- 
duced a crop of nearly 1000 lbs. per acre. Other fields 
of inferior quality produced crops of 500 lbs. per acre. 
Other fields however, which could not be ploughed 
before September, and which were sowed immediately 
after ploughing, failed to produce a good crop. The 
second season (1846-47) was a failure in consequence 
of the failure of both monsoons. The south-west 
monsoon did not commence before J une, and then the 
showers were of very short duration ; whilst from J une 
until February not a drop of rain fell. In a word, the 
whole country was burnt up, and the total fall of rain 
during the year 1846 only amounted to six inches and 
a half, instead of the usual average of from twenty- six 
to thirty inches. The result was of course a very 
short crop. The third season (1847-48) proved a 
partial failure in consequence of extreme wet. The 
south-west monsoon commenced in April with copious 
showers. The land was thus ploughed early, the seed 
was sown at the end of June and beginning of July, 
and up to the middle of October the crops were un- 



1845-49.] DE. "WIGHT'S FOUR YEAES IN COIMBATOEE. 59 



usually fine. Then the north-east monsoon, which had 
proved a failure the preceding year, brought a rain 
which never ceased for three days together, until nearly 
the end of December. Accordingly much of the large 
crop was altogether lost, and much of that which was 
harvested was much injured. Of the fourth season 
(1848-49) Dr. "Wight merely remarks that the crop 
was small. Circumstances, which will be recorded in 
the fifth chapter, led to his temporary withdrawal in 
1849. The more particular results worked out during 
the four years will now be exhibited in the following 
paragraphs. 

Suggestions of the Manchester Association respect- 92 

ing sowing in May and on low soils. — In 1847, the 

Manchester Association congratulated Dr. Mr Aspinall 

Wight upon the success w r hich he had Turner's 

attained, but considered that he might Ye\^im. 

achieve still greater triumphs, by sowing Pari. Return 
r • ±u & ;j -u u- (1847), p. 424. 

earlier in the year, and by cultivating a 
lower soil. They said that his New Orleans Cotton 
was the best that had ever been grown in India, and 
this they attributed to his having sown in June and 
July, instead of in September and October. But why 
not sow in May ? The New Orleans plant in its native 
home in Mexico grows spontaneously, or, in other 
words, propagates itself; thus showing that its seeds 
ought to be in the ground at the commencement of the 
rains, — a season which corresponds in the district of 
Coimbatore to the commencement of the south-west 
monsoon in the month of May. Again, the New Or- 
leans plant reaches its greatest perfection, and yields 
the best staple, in the low lands of tropical Mexico. 
When taken from the tropics and grown in the low 
lands of the United States, its staple is somewhat im- 
paired, but still is better than Dr. Wight's Cotton ; in 
other words, it is rather longer, more silky, and less 
harsh. Why not then sow New Orleans Cotton in 
India at a season corresponding to its own spontane- 
ous sowing season in Mexico ? — and why not sow it on 
low lands near the coast, corresponding to the low 
lands where it reaches its greatest perfection ? 



60 



COTTON m THE MADE AS PRESIDENCY. [CH. Ill, 



93 Br. Wight's reply : July is the best time for sowing. 

— Dr. Wight replied to the following effect. Before 
Dr. Wight's sowing the land must be ploughed; and 
April' i 8 847 ^ e pl° u gh m g cannot be carried out until 
Pari. Return some copious showers have fallen to soften 
(1857), p. 151. an( j i 00gen the hard, sun-baked, and im- 
penetrable soil. The present Farms in Coimbatore 
enjoy the benefit of both monsoons. The south-west 
rains rarely commence before the middle of May ; and 
then the ploughing begins, and lasts for a month or 
six weeks. Consequently it is impossible to sow before 
July. But if we take the north-east monsoon into 
consideration, we shall see that the middle of July is 
after all the best sowing time. The plant is of rapid 
growth, requiring humid weather whilst growing, and 
dry clear weather whilst maturing. If sown in July it 
comes into flower about October, when the north-east 
rains invigorate it, and the subsequent dry season 
matures it. If sown earlier, the Cotton bolls are 
maturing at the very time when the rains are begin- 
ning. The consequence is that the plant is surcharged 
with sap ; and then the Cotton, instead of maturing, 
absorbs the sap and rots in the capsule. 

94 2nd, Low Alluvial soils had proved a failure, but 
low lands near the Coast were under trial. — As re- 
garded the length and silkiness of the staple Dr. Wight 
admitted that the change was produced by the soil. 
Native Cotton dealers had long been aware of the 
fact that Indian Cotton grown on Black land had a 
longer and finer staple than when grown on Red 
gravelly soil. But still American Cotton had been 
more successfully cultivated on the Red than on the 
Black soil. Dr. Wight however had tried the low 
Alluvial lands, as more nearly resembling the best 
American soils than either Black clays or Hed gravel. 
The result established the theory but not the practice. 
The Cotton produced was of excellent quality, but the 
yield was very uncertain ; as a shower of rain, which 
would fall innocuous upon Cotton growing on a dry 
soil, would deteriorate half the crop on a low Alluvial. 
As regarded the cultivation of lands near the Coast, 



1845-49.] AMERICAN PLANT IN INDIAN SEASONS. 61 

Dr. Wight coincided in the view taken by the Associa- 
tion, and reported that the experiment was in progress ; 
Mr. Einnie, the Planter, having been located in the 
centre of Tinnevelly, which was one of the best Cotton 
districts in the South of India, and within about forty 
miles of the eastern shore. 

DR. WIGHT'S NOTES ON THE ADAPTATION OF THE 
AMERICAN PLANT TO THE SEASONS OF INDIA. 

Habits of the American Plant. — Some time after- 95 
wards, Dr. Wight entered more largely Dr Wight , s 
upon the subject of adapting the time of letter to Mr. 
sowing in Southern India to the habits |^ e ^ 8 |^ h 
of the American plant. Three things were Pari. Return 
to be observed UW. p. w. 

1st, That in average seasons, the New Orleans Cotton 
plant requires from six to eight weeks from the date of 
sowing to that of coming into flower ; and about the 
same length of time from the fall of the blossom to the 
opening of the pod. 

2nd, That rainy weather, or even a dark, cloudy, 
damp atmosphere whilst the crop was maturing, has a 
tendency to prevent the boll from opening at the pro- 
per time ; and if the opening of the boll is so checked, 
the Cotton becomes more or less deteriorated ; varying 
in degree according to the intensity of the deteriorating 
cause, from absolute destruction to simple adhesion of 
the fibres, or to mere slight discolouration. 

3rd, That the prevalence of rainy weather during the 
period of growth promotes luxuriance and productive- 
ness, provided that the drainage is free ; and provided 
also that this humidity is exchanged for clear bright 
weather at the season for maturing the crop. 

Four seasons of the American Plant. — The American 96 
plant, like all other plants, must have four seasons, 
viz. — 

1st, Spring, or season of germination, when but a 
moderate quantity of moisture is required. 

2nd, Summer, or growing season, which calls for 
more liberal supplies of moisture. 



62 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. in. 



3rd, Atjtttmn, or ripening season, which requires but 
little or none. 

4th, Winter, or season of rest. 

In America these seasons of the plant correspond 
Dr Wi ht's w ^ ^ e natural seasons of the year ; but 
letter, 26th in India they do not. In America the 
Pari' Return winter months are the season of rest ; but 
(1857), p. 186. in India the summer months are the rest- 
Compare Dr. ing geagon T}lus ^ India tte Cotton 

iothiSrch s P rm g an d summer occur during the rainy 
1849. ibid. ' season, whilst the Cotton autumn occurs 
p. 221. during the dry heat of February, March, 

and April. 

97 Adaptation of the habits of the American Plant to 
the Indian seasons. — Having thus ascertained the 
habits and seasons of the American plant in those 
countries where it has hitherto been most successfully 
cultivated, it will be next necessary to describe the 
characteristics of the seasons in India. Here we must 
take into consideration three different localities, each 
encountering different influences of the monsoons. 

1st, Eastern, or Coromandel side, — under the influ- 
ence of the north-east monsoon. Sowing time in Sep- 
tember. 

2nd, Western, or Malabar side, — under the influ- 
ence of the south-west monsoon. Sowing time in 
May. 

3rd, Intermediate localities — under the influence of 
both monsoons. Sowing time in July. 

Dr. Wight's observations upon the seasons in each 
of these localities will now be mentioned in order ; 
first, describing the actual course of each season ; and 
secondly, indicating the best method of adapting the 
cultivation of American Cotton to the course of the 
seasons. 

98 1st, Seasons on the eastern side, under the north- 
east monsoon, — The eastern or Coromandel side of 
the Indian Peninsula is visited by some of the showers 
of the south-west monsoon, which in this quarter may 
be called the petty monsoon ; but it is more imme- 
diately subject to the heavy rains of the north-east 



1845-49.] AMERICAN PLANT IN INDIAN SEASONS. 63 

monsoon. The course of the seasons is accordingly 
as follows. The rains of the south-west monsoon, 
which are very uncertain in quantity, commence in 
the month of July, and continue in this quarter in the 
form of partial showers only throughout August and 
September. In October the heavy north-east monsoon 
commences, and continues with intervals of fair weather 
until about the middle of December, when the dry 
clear weather begins. 

Monthly mean temperature and mean falls of rain 99 
in the Carnatic. — The course of the seasons in the 
parts of India more immediately under the influence 
of the north-east monsoon, may be further illustrated 
by the following table of mean temperatures and 
mean falls of rain in Madras, during the Cotton- 
growing season, as exhibited in the Madras Meteor- 
ological Register. 



Months. 


August. 


1 

September. 


October. 


November. 


December. 


§ 

755 
1-33 


February. 


March. 


April. 


Total. 


Heat 
Rain 


84'6 
5*24 


837 
476 


82'2 
10' 


78*9 
12-42 


76-3 
3*25 


777 
0-23 


80-8 
0*36 


837 
0'63 


38'22 



Cotton cultivation under the north-east monsoon: 100 
sowing in September. — From the foregoing table it 
will -be seen that during the average run of seasons 
in the Carnatic there is sufficient rain for carrying on 
all agricultural operations continuously, from the be- 
ginning of July until the end of December, whilst the 
subsequent four months are nearly dry. In August 
and September the showers of south-west rain are 
sufficient for the commencement of ploughing. Erom 
the beginning of September until the middle of Octo- 
ber, sowing may be carried on. The crops which have 
been sown before the middle of September will be in 
a good state for benefiting by the rains of the heavy 
north-east monsoon. They will thus enjoy a clear 
uninterrupted growing season of about three months 



64 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. III. 

and a half, receiving almost every week more or less 
copious falls of rain. By the end of that time, namely, 
about the beginning of January, the weather is dry, 
and continues so for four months. Thus by January 
the plants will have nearly attained their full growth ; 
and shortly afterwards they will begin to yield the 
crop, and will then continue to do so for nearly three 
months longer. After September the sowing is not 
so safe, as the north-east rains are apt to be so 
abundant, that unless the seed has germinated and is 
above ground, it is liable to rot in the earth from ex- 
cess of moisture. Towards the end of November an 
opportunity is usually offered of sowing again for a 
late crop ; but Dr. "Wight believed that this late crop 
would always be uncertain for the following reason. 
The ground would be saturated with water, and con- 
sequently the plant would find nourishment near the 
surface, and would not strike deep root ; the result of 
which would be, that when the cold dry weather set 
in, the plant would be impeded in its growth through 
the conjoint operations of cold and want of moisture. 

101 2nd, Seasons on the western side, under the south- 
west monsoon. — On the western or Malabar side of the 
Indian Peninsula, which is more immediately under 
the influence of the south-west monsoon, the course of 
the seasons is similar, only they commence earlier in 
the year. The first rains or showers begin in April and 
May. The proper south-west monsoon rains, which 
are more certain and copious here than on the eastern 
side, commence towards the end of May and beginning 
of June, and then continue until September. 

102 Cotton cultivation under the south-west monsoon : 
sowing in May. — The sowing season on the western 
coast should therefore be in May, so as to have the 
plant well above ground before the commencement of 
the heavy continuous rains. Unless this be accom- 
plished, in other words, unless the plant has vege- 
tated, the heavy rains of June and July would cause 
the seed to rot in the ground. Whereas if the plant 
be above ground, the same heavy rains will promote 
its growth. Then again, allowing three months and 



1845-49.] AMERICAN PLANT IN INDIAN SEASONS. 65 



a half for the growing season, the pickings will com- 
mence towards the end of September, by which time 
the rains are over and fine weather established.* The 
picking should continue until the end of the year, 
unless prevented by excessive heat or a dry scorching 
atmosphere. 

3rd, Intermediate regions under both the north-east 103 
and south-west monsoons. — The location of the new 
farms in Coimbatore was rather too remote from 
either the south-west or the north-east monsoon. It 
participated in the rains of both, but not sufficiently 
so to enable Dr. Wight to trust entirely to either for 
his crop. The south-west monsoon however seems to 
be the one of which the influence was the most felt. 
The first rains fell in April and May, and the bulk of 
the monsoon in June and July, with occasional show- 
ers in August and September. In October the north- 
easterly rains set in, but rarely exceeded a few days' 
duration. November is usually a clear warm dry 
month. In December, cold dry parching winds set 
in, and continue with more or less intensity until 
February, when they give place to soft humid westerly 
breezes. 

Cotton cultivation under both monsoons : sowing 104 
in July. — Under the condition of two monsoons, Dr. 
Wight was undecided for some time as to which was 
the best month for commencing agricultural opera- 
tions. One season, the early rains of the south-west 
monsoon fell in sufficient quantity to enable him to 
try the experiment of sowing in May, as suggested by 
the Manchester Association. But that crop turned 
out a failure. Experience proved that the proper 
sowing season was July and August, that is, towards 
the close of the south-west monsoon. By this delay 
one great advantage was gained. The American plant 
really required very little rain when it was once well 
above ground. Consequently it was desirable to avoid 

* It would almost seem from the description in the text that the 
western side of the Peninsula is best adapted, as far as climate is 
concerned, to the growth of American Cotton, for the course of the 
seasons is essentially the same there as in America. See para. 151. 

F 



68 COTTON IN THE MA.DBAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. III. 



the heavy rains of the south-west monsoon, when 
those of the north-east were quite sufficient. By- 
sowing in July and August the plant escaped the 
heavy rains of the south-west monsoon, and partook 
of the lighter rains of the north-east. Whereas by 
sowing earlier, the south-west monsoon brought the 
plants into full bearing just at the setting in of the 
north-east monsoon, which injured all the pods just 
as they were ready to burst. On the whole, Dr. Wight 
was not at this period very favourably disposed to- 
wards localities enjoying the benefits of both mon- 
soons. He anticipated more certain advantages from 
lands near the coast, which were subject to one mon- 
soon only, and which therefore did not perplex the 
grower by compelling him to adjust his operations, so 
as to avail himself of a double series of insufficient 
rains in the place of one ample monsoon. 

105 Large experiment in early sowing throughout the 
Cotton Districts in the Madras Presidency.— The ex- 
Returns periment of sowing the seed of American 
from the Cotton in the early spring rains had been 
several Col- g0 strongly urged by the Manchester Asso- 

lectors, Pari. ... b J, - & , , J . , , 

"Return ciation, and had been so strongly approved 
(1857), pp. b y the Court of Directors, that notwith- 
standing the experience of former trials, 
Dr. Wight did not hesitate to try the experiment on 
the largest possible scale. Accordingly, American seed 
was distributed to the Collectors at all the Cotton- 
growing districts throughout the Madras Presidency, 
and again distributed by them to Native cultivators 
in the different talooks. The results induced Dr. 
Dr Wi ht's Wight to regard this experiment as the 
letter, 26th most instructive that had ever been made ; 

Pari! r©?" an ^ one wn i cn kd to a f ar better know- 
turn (1857), ledge of the principles of the culture of the 
p ' m American Cotton plant in India than had 

then been attained. 

106 First result: India not too hot, but too cold. — The 
experiment of sowing in May was tried over a wide 
extent of country, and seemed to establish the follow- 
ing important facts. In the first place, it was seen 



1845-49.] AMERICAN PLANT I1ST INDIAN SEASONS. 67 



that India was not too hot for the American plant, 
since in the Carnatic it had borne unharmed the hot 
winds of May and June. On the other hand, it was 
ascertained that the cultivating season in India was if 
anything too cold ; in other words, that the climate of 
the Carnatic during the cold months, which formed the 
Cotton-growing season in India, was actually colder 
than the summer of Mississippi, which formed the Cot- 
ton-growing season in America ; the Americans culti- 
vating from April to November, and the Indian Ryots 
from September until April. In the first instance, Dr. 
Wight had noticed the great difference between those 
fields, or portions of fields, which were exposed to 
the cold ; and those which were warmly sheltered. 
Again on the change of the monsoon, after the north- 
easterly rain had ceased, and when the thermometer 
in the house sunk daily to 60° and 65°, he had observed 
that all the young plants, the produce of October 
sowing, ceased to grow though the soil was abundantly 
moist. 

Theory confirmed by a comparison of the tempera- 10 
ture of Madras with that of Vera Cruz, Mobile, and 
Natchez. — This theory, that the American plant in 
India suffered from the cold, was directly opposite to 
an opinion which had been expressed by Mr. Mercer, 
an American Planter under the Bombay Government, 
who had confidently asserted that India was too hot 
for the cultivation of American Cotton. It was how- 
ever fully confirmed by a comparison of a meteorologi- 
cal register of the Cotton-growing States ^ Wight , g 
in America with a similar register of Ma- Circular, 
dras. In Mississippi the sowing com- i849 M Par?' 
mences in April ; in the Carnatic the latter Return 
part of September, or even the beginning compared 21 ' 
of October, is considered to be the best sow- ^- h h 5 r - 
ing time. The following four lines of letter, 26th 
figures exhibit the temperature of the Cot- j^g^ 
ton season in four distinct localities ; viz. 

1. Vera Cruz, 19* 12 north latitude, which is one of 
the native districts of the American plant. 

2. Mobile in Alabama, 30*12 north latitude. 



68 COTTON IN THE MADE AS PRE STDENCT. [CH. III. 

3. Natchez in Mississippi, 31*32 north latitude. 

4. Madras, 13 4 north latitude. 





April 


May 


June 


July 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Vera Cruz 


77*18 


80'42 


81*86 


81*50 


82-10 


80-96 


78-41 


75-38 


71-6 


Mobile 


7000 


76-36 


82-17 


82*41 


82-73 


75-94 


69-97 


61-50 


55-50 


Natchez... 


69-93 


72-72 


80-62 


81-78 


80-13 


74*99 


64-58 


55-23 . 


49-09 




Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


March 


April 


Madras.... 


84-6 


83-7 


82*2 


78-9 


76-3 


75'5 


77-7 


80-8 


83*7 



108 Rising temperature in America, but diminishing 
temperature in India, during the growing season. — 

Erom the foregoing table it will be seen that in Ame- 
rica the seed is sown at a comparatively low temper- 
ature, which gradually rises as the plant advances to 
maturity ; whilst in India it is sown at a comparatively 
high temperature, which gradually falls as the plant 
matures. In Mississippi, the seed is sown in April at 
a temperature of 70°, which gradually rises from month 
to month until July, when it nearly reaches 82°, and 
the Cotton is nearly ripe. In August the pickings 
are approaching their maximum, and then the temper- 
ature is as high as it is in India during the picking 
season of March. In India, on the contrary, the 
American plant has to contend with a diminishing 
temperature instead of a rising one during the growing 
season. Here the seed is sown in October at a tem- 
perature of 82°, which gradually diminishes as the 
plant approaches to maturity, and when the Cotton is 
most in need of heat and light. Thus at the outset of 
life, the young plant is stimulated by strong light and 
high temperature, neither of which is sustained through 
the growing season ; and in January, when the state 
of the crop calls for a high temperature, we have it 
about the lowest, being nearly six degrees lower than 
the mean temperature of Mississippi at the same stage. 
This state of things must prove more or less injurious 
to the health of a plant so tenacious of heat and light. 

109 Second Result : Carnatic not too dry, confirmed by 
a comparison of mean rain fall. — Another important 
fact was ascertained at this time. Mr. Finnie, the 



1845-49.] AMERICAN PLANT IN INDIAN SEASONS. 69 

American Planter, had asserted that the climate of the 
Carnatic was much too dry ; and that we could not 
expect to succeed in the culture of American Cotton, 
excepting in such places as partook of the g ee paras 
rains of both monsoons. This theory how- 127, 133. 
ever was completely disproved, and the opposite one 
established. The experiment already indicated was 
tried in the Carnatic at a season when the American 
plant had to struggle against a four-months' uninter- 
rupted drought, a very rare circumstance ; but even 
under such unusual conditions, the plant not only sur- 
vived the unusual drought, but when the rain did fall, 
it grew vigorously and produced a good crop. This 
result is further confirmed by a comparison of the 
monthly mean falls of rain in Florida and Madras 
during the Cotton-growing seasons in both countries ; 
from which it will be seen that the climate of the Car- 
natic as compared with that of the Cotton-growing 
country of Florida, is the more humid of the two. 





April 


May 


June 


July 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Total 


Florida. 


109 


6-34 


2'39 


2-84 


3-30 


435 


333 


1'49 


113 


2616 




Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


A.pr. 




Madras 


5*24 


476 


10- 


1242 


3*25 


1-33 


0-23 


036 


0-63 


38-22 



Two Methods of cultivating American Cotton in 110 
India : adaptation of seasons, and artificial irrigation. 

— Two methods suggested themselves for adapting the 
American Cotton plant to the Indian seasons. 1st, 
The arrangement of sowing seasons already indicated 
in the localities under the influence of the north-east 
monsoon, or under the influence of both monsoons ; 
namely, that of employing the earlier weeks of the 
regular autumnal period as the Cotton spring season, 
the later weeks and part of winter as the Cotton sum- 
mer season, and the conclusion of winter and part of 
spring as the Cotton autumn. 2nd, The employment 
of irrigation as in Egypt ; by which course the Indian 
cultivator would be comparatively independent of the 
seasons, as by sowing in JNovember he would secure 



70 



COTTON TN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. III. 



for the growing plant a rising range of temperature in 
the place of a falling one. 

111 Experiments in irrigation, securing a rising tem- 
perature to the growing plant. — Dr. Wight first tried 
the experiment by sowing an acre of ground about the 
end of January. On the 4th of February the young 
plants began to appear above ground. On the 10th of 
March many of them were upwards of a foot high, 
all very healthy and already showing abundance of 
" forms," or coming flowers ; and that too with the 
thermometer in the shade daily above 90°, once or 
twice 96° ; thus proving clearly that high temperature, 
when there is sufficient moisture in the soil, is not in- 
jurious to New Orleans Cotton. This experiment 
however was only undertaken to establish the princi- 
ple, as the cloudy weather and rain in May would 
interfere with the perfect maturation of the crops. 
Had the sowing been earlier, that is, immediately after 
the cessation of the north-easterly rains, then a full 
crop would have been obtained. Fortunately the lat- 
ter experiment had been tried by Captain Lawford, 
Civil Engineer. Captain Lawford wished to prove to 
the Natives of Tanjore, that Cotton cultivated under 
irrigation was as productive as Eice. The seed was 
sown in November, and the pickings commenced about 
the middle of February. Dr. Wight however recom- 
mended that in carrying out this irrigation method, 
the water should be sparingly applied, and that little 
or none should be given from the commencement of 
the picking. 

112 Five practical suggestions. —Having thus explained 
the principles of American Cotton cultivation in India, 
Pr. Wight's Dr. "Wight proceeded to discuss five ques- 
Sthfcch ti° ns of P ractical detail ; viz. — 1st, Choice 
1849. 1 Pari.' of soil ; 2nd, Preparation of the land for 

a857)?P. tlie seed ; 3r(i ' Pl° u g nin g an<i toeing dur- 
2^1. ' ' ing the growing season ; 4th, Distance 
between the rows ; and 5th, Treatment of the plant as 
an annual and rotation of crops. These points have 
already been noticed in previous paras. ; but it seems 
advisable to repeat the conclusions here. 



1845-49.] AMERICAN PLANT 1ST INDIAN SEASONS. 71 



1st, Choice of soil. — Dr. "Wight observed on this 113 
point, that the best crops of American Cotton which he 
had as yet seen had been obtained from dark brown, 
very light, sandy loams, mixed with much kunkur lime- 
stone ;* a kind of soil easily worked, very permeable to 
rain, and easily penetrated to a great depth by the 
roots. Red soils, which had a large admixture of sand 
securing for them the same properties, had also an- 
swered well, and were easily cultivated. Stiffer clayey 
soils had not answered so well, excepting in seasons 
when showers were frequent and kept the ground in an 
easily workable state ; otherwise when the weather was 
dry, these soils were liable to bake and become very 
hard. Black Cotton soils had been a good deal tried 
at first ; but still Dr. Wight considered that they had 
been condemned as unsuitable rather too prematurely. 
Subsequent consideration had led him to doubt the 
justice of the verdict. 

2nd, Preparation of the land for the seed. — Too 114 
much care, says Dr. Wight, cannot be bestowed upon 
the preparation of the ground for the reception of the 
seed. Erom four to six months before the sowing 
time, the land should be well ploughed, the deeper the 
better, and then should be allowed to lie fallow. If 
rain fell in the interval, then a second ploughing should 
take place, so as to keep the land thoroughly open and 
freely exposed to the conjoint action of the air and 
sun ; this would prevent excessive absorption of heat ; 
it would greatly promote fertility ; and it would clean 
the laud by exposing and killing the roots of all peren- 
nial weeds. Last of all, just before sowing, the ground 
should have a final ploughing. 

3rd, Ploughing and hoeing during the growing 115 
Season. — The ploughing and hoeing during the growing 
season of the American Cotton plant should be regu- 
lated as follows. If the seed is sown in drills according 
to the American practice, then, whilst the plant is still 
small, the land should be ploughed once or twice be- 

* The presence of this kunkur was the very thing that Mr. 
Simpson the American Planter had urged as rendering the land unfit 
tor the growth of American Cotton. See para. 77. 



72 COTTON Itf THE MADE AS PEESIDENCT. [cn. III. 



tween the rows. If the seed be sown broadcast, this 
ploughing cannot be conveniently carried out ; and 
then the hoe must suffice. When the third leaf has 
appeared, the ground must be hoed, and the plants 
thinned out to six or eight inches between them ; and 
this will leave enough to allow of considerable destruc- 
tion during the subsequent ploughing. A second hoe- 
ing is always deemed necessary, in both American and 
Native practice, when the " stand " should be further 
thinned, to an extent varying from a foot to eighteen 
inches between the plants. If the growth is vigorous, 
the distance between the plants should average not 
less than eighteen inches, but otherwise, an interval 
of one foot would be sufficient. 

116 4th, Distance between the Rows. — The distance be- 
tween the rows and ridges should be regulated as 
follows. In moderately fertile and high and dry lands, 
it will be sufficient to have an interval of from two 
feet and a half to three feet between the rows. But 
for moist low-lying rich soils an interval of five feet is 
not too much ; as under such circumstances the bushes 
will still fill the ground, for the plant is a very strong 
growing one, and unless it has plenty of room the crop 
blights. 

117 5th, Treatment of the plant as an annual and rota- 
tion of crops. — The last point to which Dr. Wight 
drew attention, was the fact that the experiment of 
treating the plant as a biennial, already noticed, had 
Para 64 uniformly failed ; that however promising in 

appearance the second year's plants might 
be, he had never succeeded in obtaining a really good 
crop off the same bushes. He would therefore always 
recommend the plan of cultivating the New Orleans 
Cotton plant as an annual. Again, as regards rotation 
of crops, he would recommend that the same land 
should never be sown oftener than every third or fourth 
year, as the foreign Cotton seems to be a very exhaust- 
ing crop. 

118 Profitable cultivation of American Cotton throughout 
the Peninsula. — The final results of Dr. Wight's ex- 
perience in 1849, may thus be summed up in a few 



1845-49.] DE. WIGHT'S FQUE YEAES IN COIMBATOBE. 73 



words. He considered that, under the Dr Wight » s 

guidance of the principles already laid letter, 26th 

down to suit particular localities, the cul- parL Return 

tivation of American Cotton might be sue- (1857), p. 189. 
cessfully carried on throughout the Penin- 
sula, excepting perhaps on the high table-lands where 
the climate is too cold. 

Plans for extending the American Cotton Culture 119 
amongst the Ryots, 1845-49. — Before concluding the 
present chapter, it will be necessary to glance at the 
efforts which had been made to introduce American 
Cotton and American cultivation amongst the Byots. 
It has already been seen that prior to removing his 
Farms in 1845, Dr. Wight had endeavoured to extend 
the cultivation of American Cotton amongst the Ryots, 
partly by distributing American Cotton seed, but 
chiefly by engaging to purchase the produce at a higher 
rate than the market value in India ; this higher rate 
being adjusted to the relative market prices of Ameri- 
can and Indian Cotton in the home market. ^ ^ 84 
Dr. Wight considered that this step was ee P ara - 
necessary to secure the Ryot against personal loss, until 
the American Cotton should have obtained an estab- 
lished market value in India. These offers however 
failed to encourage the Ryots. Tor some time they 
held back altogether, but at last in the 
first season at the new location, viz. in ^ e ^^^ s 
1845-46, some Ryots were induced to Feb., 1846. 
attempt the cultivation. Unfortunately, (i^^'m 
instead of sowing the American seed in 
July and August, they waited until the setting in of 
the north-east monsoon, and thus sowed it in October 
with the Native plant. Accordingly, the experiment 
turned out a failure, and no purchases appear to have 
been made. 

Court of Directors order 6000 bales of East India 120 
Cotton, 1845.— Meantime the Court of Directors had 
directed that 5000 or 6000 bales of East D espatch of 
India Cotton, cleaned by the saw gin, theDirect- 
should be sent out to England at one time, Nov! is45. 



74 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. III. 



Pari. Return * n orc * er tnat some conclusive result should 
(1847), p. 398. be arrived at respecting the merits of the 
article. This necessitated large purchases 
of Native seed, Cotton from the Ryots, for the purpose 
of submitting it to the action of Dr. Wight's saw gins 
Pari Return at Coimbatore. In 1846-47 nearly £1200 
(]857), pp. or 12,000 rupees were expended ; in 1847-48 
140-143. t]ie piirc h ages reached £2100, and in 
1848-49 they amounted to nearly £2600. 
121 Proposition for reducing the assessment of lands 
under American Cotton cultivation.— In 1847, the 
Letter of Manchester Association had recommended 
Mr. Aspinaii that the whole of the 6000 bales should 
Feb"i847? th cous i st of American Cotton. Accordingly 
Pari.' Return Dr. Wight began to consider how to extend 
(1847), p. 424. the cu i tivation of tlie foreign article. He 

at once made known to the local merchants who fre- 
quented the gin-house, that he was in expectation of 
orders for stopping the purchase of Native Cotton; 

and he again offered to supply American 

Etterfilth 8 see( * an( * to purchase the produce, but 
June,'i847. without any apparent success. Accord- 
^im^m. m gty ne proposed that a remission of 25 
per cent, should be made, for a term of 
three or five years, on all lands under American Cotton 
Mr Wrough- cultivation. Mr. Wroughton, the Collector 
ton's letter, of Coimbatore, stated in reply, that in 1833, 
i847. J parL Government had offered to remit one half 
Return of the fixed assessment on the same pro- 
(1857), p. 156. v - g0 . but that even that larger encourage- 
ment had failed to produce any extension of the cul- 
tivation, and therefore Government had deemed it 
inexpedient to continue the indulgence. Mr. Wrough- 
ton at the same time expressed an opinion that any 
such interference with the long-standing survey settle- 
ment of the district was a very dangerous and doubtful 
experiment, and likely to be productive of much con- 
fusion and irregularity ; and he suggested that if the 
amount of the proposed remission of 25 per cent, 
should be deemed necessary for the extension of the 
American Cotton cultivation, the amount should be 



1845-49.] DE. WIGHT S FOUR YEARS IN COIMBATORE. 75 



added to the price given for the Cotton when produced, 
in lieu of a reduction of the rent of the soil. Dr. 
Wight however had already offered this increased price 
for the American Cotton, but without effect. Dr wight's 
Accordingly he applied to the Madras Go- letter, 20th 
vernment to renew, for a further period of pari'Return 
five or ten years, the orders of 1833, grant- (i857),p.i53. 
ing 50 per cent, remission on all lands under American 
Cotton cultivation. 

Marquis of Tweeddale in favour of the remission. 122 
— The Marquis of Tweeddale was in favour of the pro- 
posed remission. He considered that if 

f i j «i it i . \r ' i Minute of 

granted, it would only bring a larger the Marquis 
breadth of land under the plough ; inas- ^le^rd* " 
much as a foreign demand for the Ameri- Sept., 1847. 
can Cotton of India would in no way in- ^sf^l^ 
terfere with the Indian demand for its own 
raw produce ; consequently the same extent of land 
would still be cultivated to meet the wants of the home 
consumer, and the same rental would be received by 
G-o vernment ; the only difference being that more waste 
land would be taken into cultivation to meet the foreign 
demand for American Cotton of Indian growth. 

Court of Directors decide against the remission. — 123 
The Court of Directors refused their consent to the 
proposed remission. They considered it j) eS p atcll 
would be an obvious violation of the gene- from the 
ral principle, which prescribes that the as- rectors?4t?" 
sessment shall be regulated by the capa- July, i^s- 
bility of the land, without any reference to ^857)fp?i8o! 
the particular description of produce which 
might be raised from it. Again, even supposing that 
American Cotton could be cultivated with profit only 
when half the rate of assessment was remitted, and 
that this profit would cease when the rate of assessment 
was again raised to its original amount, this fact would 
simply prove that the remission was forcing a factitious 
cultivation, which under ordinary circumstances could 
not be carried on. However, it was the belief of the 
Directors that no such reduction was required in the 
province of Coimbatore ; for the out-turn of American 



76 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CH. III. 



Cotton per acre was much larger than that of Indian 
Cotton, and at the same time far more valuable in the 
English market. The real difficulty in the way of 
inducing the Byots to extend the cultivation of the 
American Cotton, was the want of a steady demand 
for the article in the district in which it was grown. 
That difficulty however was removed for the present by 
the permission, which had been given to Dr. Wight, to 
purchase American Cotton from the Byots on account 
of Grovernment at remunerating prices. 
124 Failure of the purchase system as regarded Ame- 
rican Cotton, 1848. — Meantime however the purchases 
Dr. Wight's of New Orleans Cotton effected by Dr. 
June r 'i 2 848 Wight were insignificant in the extreme. 
Pari.'neturn He was by no means sparing in his offers 
(1857), p. i8i. of high p r i ces< Whilst Native Cotton was 

sold to him at the gin-house for eight annas (or one 
shilling) a maund of 25 lbs., he had announced that he 
was prepared to purchase all first-class New Orleans 
Cotton at double the price, that is, at one rupee (or 
two shillings) per maund. But still the Natives were 
so averse to depart from their established customs, that 
he had only been able to persuade a small number to 
cultivate the foreign plant. At the same time the 
Cotton markets in Coimbatore had been so sparingly 
supplied with purchasers during the two previous sea- 
sons, that but for the Court's order for 6000 bales of 
gin-cleaned Native Cotton, the trade must have been 
almost at a stand-still. # Under such circumstances, 
Dr. Wight seriously thought of proclaiming throughout 
the district, that for the future he should only buy Ame- 
rican Cotton ; and that he was prepared to purchase all 
of that description which might be offered for sale. 
He was aware that there were strong objections to this 
course ; but whilst so many Byots offered their Cotton 

* It seems not improbable that Dr. Wight had himself kept the 
Native purchasers out of the Coimbatore markets. At Dr. Wight's 
gin-house the Ryot could obtain a ready sale, liberal prices, and 
immediate payment for Native Cotton. It was not therefore likely 
that the Merchants would care to compete with so formidable a 
rival. They would rather purchase elsewhere, and leave the field 
open to Dr. Wight. 



1845-49.] DR. WIGHT'S FOUR TEARS IN COIMBATORE. 77 

for sale at his gin-house before they took it elsewhere, 
he considered that the plan might be attended with 
beneficial results. These explanations, he trusted, 
would prove that the failure to induce the Byots to 
cultivate American Cotton did not arise from any want 
of encouragement, as a ready market and high prices 
were offered to all comers. 

Contemplated establishment of a number of small 125 
Earms. — In the early part of 1849, Dr. Wight con- 
sidered of a new plan for extending the Dr. Wight's 
cultivation of the American Cotton amongst letter, 26th 
the Natives. The principles of the culture iS Return 
he considered to be fully established, whilst (i857),p.i89. 
the practice had been simplified to the utmost. He 
therefore proposed, after the close of the season 1848-49, 
to form a number of small Farms, of from twenty to 
fifty acres each, to be cultivated by hired labour under 
the direction of Native Maistries, in the hope of 
familiarizing all classes of cultivators with the im- 
proved practice, and satisfying them that American 
Cotton could be cultivated by their own implements 
with as much care, cheapness, and certainty as the 
Native plant, whilst the produce was far more valuable. 
At the same time he contemplated diminishing the 
extent of his own Farms, in order to allow of more 
leisure for superintending the smaller detached ones 
above described. Meantime, however, circumstances 
had arisen which led to his temporary retirement from 
the Cotton experiment. These will be found narrated 
in the fifth chapter. But before drawing attention to 
these matters, it will be necessary to review the pro- 
ceedings of Mr. Finnie in Tinnevelly, to which accord- 
ingly the next chapter will be devoted. 



CHAPTEE IV. 



FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIMENTAL CULTURE UNDER 
MR. EIIOTE IN TINNEVELLY, 1845 to 1849. 

(126.) Labours of Mr. Finnie and Dr. Wight compared. — (127.) First 
Season, 1845-46: Mr. Finnie's first impression of Tinnevelly. — (128.) 
Suggestion that by acting as a Cotton Agent he could induce the Ryots to 
adopt the new culture. — (129.) An Agency would also increase the profits 
of both Ryots and Merchants, and double the exports. — (130.) Nothing 
however would induce the Ryots to adopt the American Saw Gin. — (131.) 
The Thresher recommended. — (132.) Three points in the career of Mr. 
Finnie : the New Orleans Cotton, the Agency, and the Saw Gin. — (133.) 
Cultivation of Cotton : tour to Courtallum, under both monsoons, 1846. — 
(134.) Necessity for the co-operation of the Natives : employment of hired 
labour by the European always a loss. — (135.) First intercourse with the 
Ryots : allays fears and suspicions. — (136.) Explains the improved method 
of culture to the Ryots. — (137.) Mr. Finnie's tour from Courtallum to 
Coimbatore, July. — (138.) Preparations for assisting Dr. Wight in com- 
pleting the Court's order for 6000 bales. — (139.) Mr. Finnie permitted to 
act as Agent : restricted to Cotton ginned and prepared on the American 
principle, August. — (140.) Restriction removed. — (141.) Mr. Finnie's 
first year's proceedings with the Churka, Thresher, and Gin. — (142.) Queries 
submitted to Mr. Finnie by the Marquis of Tweeddale. 

MR. FINNIE'S u NOTES ON COTTON CULTIVATION IN AMERICA 
AND INDIA." 

(143.) Early cultivation of Cotton in America : compared with the pre- 
sent cultivation in India. — (144.) Climate discovered to be of more im- 
portance than soil. — (145.) Nature of the lands in America, on which the 
American plant is grown. — (146.) Manure : consisting of old stocks and 
rotten seed buried in a furrow between the rows. — (147.) Climate: very 
humid at night but hot in the day. — (148.) Rotation of crops : alternation 
with Indian Corn occasionally necessary. — (149.) Capital required in 
American cultivation. — (150.) Successive operations necessary to raise a 
crop: cleaning old land and clearing new. — (151.) Planting. — (152.) 
"Scraping" or hoeing. — (153.) Gathering. — (154.) Uncertainty of 
weather : average crops. — (155.) Expenses of Cotton cultivation : produce 
estimated, not at so much per acre, but at four to eight bales per Negro, 
— (156.) Machinery: Gin-house, Gins, Press, and Driving Machinery. — 
(157.) Price of land: fluctuates with the price of Cotton. — (158.) Mini- 
mum price at which American Cotton could be produced, four pence per 
pound. — (159.) Prospects of India: labour in America and India com- 



1845-49.] ME. FINNIE'S FOUR YEAES IN TINNEYELLY. 



79 



pared. — (160.) Reduction of the Indian Land-tax on Cotton grounds 
would neither benefit the Ryot nor extend the culture. 

(161.) Mr. Finnie's second season, 1846-47 : planting operations suc- 
ceeded at Courtallum but failed at Sevacausey. — (162.) Mr. Finnic is 
disappointed as an Agent. — (163.) Mr. Finnie's second year's operations 
with the Churka, Thresher, and Gin. — (164.) Sale of two Gins to neigh- 
bouring Zemindars: their failure. — (165.) Cotton Brokers rather than 
Zemindars should be induced to adopt the Gin. — (166.) Mr. Finnie's pro- 
posal for erecting a Gin-house and Cattle-driving Machinery in Tinne- 
velly. — (167.) Purchase of Cattle-driving Machinery sanctioned ; relative 
cost of cattle labour and manual labour. — (168.) Change in Mr. Finnie's 
views as regards the Cattle-driving Machinery. — (169.) Mr. Finnie's 
explanation of his apparent inconsistencies. — (170.) Mr. Finnie's general 
objections to the Gin discussed by Dr. Wight. — (171.) Mr. Finnie's pro- 
position for erecting a Gin-house of two storeys : the lower one for the 
Driving Machinery and the upper one for the Gins. — (172.) Hire of a 
temporary Gin-house at Aroopoocottah. — (173.) Erection of three Gins 
and a Thresher: their effect upon the Natives. — (174.) Testimony of the 
Brokers that dirty Cotton was more profitable than clean Cotton. 

MR. FINNIE'S NOTES ON THE PECULIARITIES OP COTTON TRADE IN 

TINNEVELLY. 

(175.) Systematic adulteration of Indian Cotton : transactions between 
the Ryots, the Brokers, the Chetties, and the European Agents.— (176.) 
The Ryot: improvident and helplessly in debt.— (177.) The Broker: 
adulteration of the Cotton by the "Devil's dust" system. — (178.) The 
Chetty : tricks played with the European Agent. 

(179.) Conclusion of the season of 1846-47 : difficulties in the way of 
conducting the ginning operations at Aroopoocottah. — (180.) First, High 
prices demanded by the Ryots for their seed Cotton. — (181.) Second, 
Heavy expenses of ginning. — (182.) Necessity for improving the con- 
struction of the Gin. — (183.) Third season, J 847-48 : stage of the Cotton 
experiment in Tinnevelly. — (184.) Planting operations : successful culture 
of American Cotton in the Courtallum valley. — (185.) Unsuccessful cul- 
ture at Sevacausey, Virdooputty, and Aroopoocottah. — (186.) Agency 
operations : Mr. Finnie requests permission to proceed to England to 
consult with the Cotton Manufacturers. — (187.) Operations with the 
Churka, Thresher, and Gin : meeting of Cotton Brokers of Tinnevelly. — 
(188.) Cost of cleaning with the Thresher and Churka as compared with 
that of the Gin. — (189.) Cost at which clean unadulterated Cotton might 
be supplied. — (190.) Recommends the introduction of small hand- threshers 
and cheap presses. — (191.) Small hand-threshers and presses sanctioned. — 
(192.) Mr. Thomas believed that Cotton was not adulterated by design, 
, and that good Cotton was often sent home. — (193.) No market or Agency 
required in Tinnevelly. — (194.) Cultivation of New Orleans Cotton, and 
improved cleaning, the main points. — (195.) Mr. Finnie's design for a 
cheap Cotton press. — (196.) Mr. Finnie's sample of Churka-cleaned Tinne- 
velly Cotton equal to American. — (197.) Madras Government refer the 
sample to Dr. Wight, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Court of 
Directors. — (198.) Dr. Wight's report: Mr. Finnie's sample is "good 



80 



COTTON IN THE MADEAS PBESIDEKCY. [1ST SEASON. 



Tinnevelly," which no one could mistake for American. — (199.) Large 

shipments of Churkaed Cotton contrary to the orders of the Directors 

(200.) Dr. Wight's system of purchase compared with that of Mr. Fin- 
nie's. — (201.) Madras Chamber of Commerce confirm Dr. Wight's valu- 
ation of Mr. Fiunie's Cotton. — (202.) Manchester Commercial Association 
pass a similar judgment upon the Cotton. — (203.) Fourth season, 1848-49 : 
proposed extension of planting operations. — (204.) Mr. Finnie's matured 
judgment against the culture of American Cotton or use of the American 
Gin. — (205.) Pronounces in favour of the Indigenous Cotton and Native 
Churka. — (206.) Native Cotton should first be threshed, next churkaed, 
and finally cleaned by hand. — (207.) Erection of Mr. Finnie's Gin-house 
and Driving Machinery at Sevacausey. — (208.) Relative cost of the 
Churka, the Hand-gin, and the Cattle-gin.— (209.) Mr. Finnie refused 
permission to extend his operations to Coimbatore. 

126 Labours of Mr. Finnie and Dr. Wight compared. — 

In the two preceding chapters, we have seen Dr. 
Wight engaged in Coimbatore in endeavouring, by 
successive experiments, to lay down the true principles 
of Cotton culture in the Madras Presidency ; and also 
in endeavouring, by large purchases from the neigh- 
bouring Eyots, to fulfil the order of the Court of 
Directors for 6000 bales of ginned East India Cotton. 
Meantime, that is, during the second period of four 
years, extending between 1845 and 1849, Mr. Finnie 
had been engaged in a totally different line of opera- 
tions in the South. From the very first, the latter 
gentleman evidently had no heart in the efforts that 
were being made to introduce the cultivation of Ame- 
rican Cotton and the use of the American Machinery 
into this Presidency ; but whether he acted from a 
sincere conviction of their inutility, or whether, as a 
patriotic American Planter, he systematically endea- 
voured to throw cold water upon the objects in view, 
must be entirely left to the judgment of the reader. 
It will be sufficient to say that, as regarded both the 
New Orleans plant and the saw gin, he did as little as 
he possibly could ; and that, if he exerted himself at 
all, it was chiefly to vaunt the Native Cotton and the 
Madras churka. In other respects however the narra- 
tive of his labours will prove highly valuable. As a 
Planter, he possessed a practical knowledge of Ameri- 
can Cotton cultivation as it was carried on in the 



1845-46.] ME. FINNIE's POUR TEAES US' TINNEVELLY. 81 

Southern States ; whilst during his residence in India, 
he had familiarized himself to a considerable extent 
with the character of the Eyots, and with the mode of 
carrying on the Cotton trade in this country. Both 
these points will be largely illustrated in the following 
paras. ; and as Mr. Finnie was also a man of sense and 
shrewdness, his own observations, extracted and con- 
densed from his official letters, will throw considerable 
light upon the actual condition of the Cotton trade and 
cultivation in the Madras Presidency; though they 
may convey a generally unfavourable impression re- 
specting the possibility of any great improvements 
being speedily carried out through the aid of American 
seed or American machinery. 

First season, 1845-46 : Mr. Finnie's first impres- 127 
sions of Tinnevelly. — Mr. Finnie proceeded to Tinne- 
velly in October, 1845. His ostensible objects were to 
distribute American Cotton seed amongst the Byots, and 
to exhibit the working of some small-sized saw gins. 
It seems also to have been expected that he should 
cultivate some American Cotton, partly to test the 
capabilities of the district, and partly to instruct the 
Natives in the improved method of cultivation. On 
reaching Tinnevelly however he found that the sowing 
season was over, and accordingly he could do little 
beyond recording his first impressions, and submitting 
a plan of operations to the authorities. As Mr. Finnie's 
regards the capabilities of the Tinnevelly letter, 

■% • • • i -i r ,i , ,i . J Jan., 1846. 

district, he appears to have at this time Pari. Return 
formed a favourable opinion. Both the (184r " p * 417 ' 
New Orleans and the Sea Island varieties might, he 
thought, be grown in Tinnevelly ; — the New Orleans in 
the vicinity of the hills, where it would receive the 
benefit of both monsoons ; and the Sea Island on the 
coast, about seven to fifteen miles from the sea, where 
it would be near enough to enjoy the benefit of the sea 
breeze, and far enough off to secure a better soil than 
could be obtained immediately on the shore. As re- 
gards the Native cultivation he was less sanguine, The 
Natives sowed their Cotton broad-cast, frequently with 
other kinds of produce, and then left it to take its 



82 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON. 

chance ; so that it was a mystery to hiin how they 
obtained a Cotton crop at all. Jf however they could 
only be induced to pay more attention to the cultiva- 
tion, to plant their Cotton by itself and after a more 
regular fashion, and to gather their crops in a cleaner 
style, the ordinary Native Cotton might soon be ren- 
dered equal to "Upland Georgia. There would how- 
ever be considerable difficulty in persuading the people 
to adopt an improved culture and improved machinery. 
Europeans might carry on their new methods for ages 
with the greatest success, but the Natives would never 
follow their example, but would consider the whole 
operation to be a peculiar trick on the part of the 
Europe gentlemen, in which they had no interest or 
concern. 

128 Suggestion, that by acting as a Cotton Agent, he 
could induce the Ryots to adopt the new culture. — 

Under these circumstances, Mr. Finnie proposed that 
he should be allowed to act as an Agent for the pro- 
duce of Cotton. Thus, whilst as a Government serv- 
ant he would be teaching the Eyots an improved 
method of culture, he would as a Commercial Agent 
be engaged in affording them direct encouragement to 
carry his agricultural precepts into practice, by offering 
them higher prices for the Native article. He there- 
fore proposed to set up a " Tinnevelly Cotton Agency 
and either to make large shipments of Cotton to the 
Court of Directors, or to announce by circular to the 
different merchants at home that he was prepared to 
supply the article. 

129 An Agency would also increase the profits of both 
Eyots and Merchants, and double the exports. — Mr. 
Einnie's arguments were not unlike those of Mr. 
Eischer already noticed in para. 38, and may be ex- 
hibited thus. The Cotton in this country goes through 
too many hands. The Cotton is purchased from the 
Eyots by the Native Chetties, who again sell it to the 
European Agents on the coast, who again are not 
buying it for themselves, but for European merchants 
in England. Thus the Chetty cheats the Eyot from 
whom he buys, and the Agent to whom he sells, and 



1845-46.] ME. FIKNIE's TOUR YEARS IN TIKNEYELLY. 83 

the price of the Cotton is further swollen by the 
charges of the European houses of Agency. In Tinne- 
velly, upwards of 50,000 candies of Cotton are shipped 
every year at a cost of some 25 lakhs of rupees, or 
£250,000 ; the mere shipment of which occupies eight 
Agency houses on the coast, whose charges alone are 
equal to 12 per cent, on the whole. All this Cotton, 
he represented, might be shipped by one or two Agency 
houses, which would so far reduce the expenses as to 
encourage the home merchants to largely increase their 
trade. Again, by purchasing direct from the Eyots, 
the iniquitous services of the Chetties would be dis- 
pensed with, and the Eyots would reap the full reward 
of their labours. 

Nothing however would induce the Eyots to adopt 130 
the American Saw Gin. — As regards separating the 
staple from the seed and cleaning it for the home mar- 
ket, Mr. Einnie believed that nothing, not even an 
agency, would induce the people of India to recognize 
the advantages of the American saw gin. The circum- 
stances of America and India, in respect to the use of 
this machine, were altogether different. In America, 
where slave labour was valuable and time was money, 
a Planter could invest his capital profitably in ma- 
chinery. In India, on the contrary, the bulk of the 
people were not employed for one-third of their time, 
and a man was willing to labour for three rupees a 
month, during which period he would in his own rude 
way clean a candy of Cotton, or 500 lbs. Was it 
likely therefore that a Native would pay four rupees 
for having a candy of Cotton cleaned in six hours by an 
American gin ? If the man could get no employment 
during that month, he would lose the whole four rupees ; 
and even if he did get work elsewhere, he would still be 
the loser of one rupee. Again, when the Cotton was 
separated from the seed, the seed was still useful to the 
people as food for cattle, but it could be of no value to 
an Agency. If however an Agency were established in 
the Cotton districts for the purchase of the Cotton 
seed, and if the Natives agreed to give a fair price for 
the seed after it had been separated from the Cotton, 

g2 



84 COTTON IN THE MADE AS PRESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON. 



then it might be worth the Agent's while to employ 
the gin, for the sake of the superior cleanness of the 
ginned Cotton. But it must be borne in mind that 
the carriage of the seed and staple to the Agent's gin- 
house would be infinitely more expensive than the 
carriage of the staple alone ; and that the carriage of 
the seed back again after the ginning would prevent 
the people from giving much for it. If therefore, from 
the increased cost of carriage, the price of the staple 
and seed, before separation by the Agent's gin, was 
equal to the price of the staple and seed after separ- 
ation by the Native churka, it was clearly impossible 
that the extra outlay for ginning could be made to 
pay. 

The Thresher recommended. — Under such circum- 
stances, Mr. Finnie considered it best to leave the 
people to separate the staple from the seed by the 
churka; and to employ some machine which could 
clean the dust and trash out of the wool. For this 
purpose he recommended the " thresher " already de- 
scribed in para. 27, as cleaning the Cotton prior to its 
separation by the churka as effectually as the brush- 
wheel cleaned the Cotton after it had been separated 
by the saw gin. But notwithstanding this expression 
of opinion, Mr. Finnie was prepared to set up saw gins 
worked by cattle, and to exhibit their working to the 
people. He was indeed expecting the arrival of a 
thresher from Calcutta ; but this he proposed to set 
up together with the gins, as both gins and thresher 
could be worked by the same driving machinery. 
Meantime however he intended to ascertain if the 
people would use gins worked by hand, provided the 
machines were let out on the toll system. Accordingly 
he asked and obtained three hand gins from Dr. 
Wight, two of twenty-five saws each and one of 
twenty saws.* 

* These remarks of Mr. Finnie against the employment of the 
American gin in India were subsequently referred to Dr. Wight, 
whose reply will be found at para. 170. For the sake of clearness, 
however, it will be advisable to continue the narrative in exact 
chronological order. 



1845-46.] ME. FIKNIE's FOTJE YEAES IX TINNETELLY. 85 

Three points in the career of Mr. Finnie : the New 132 
Orleans Cotton, the Agency, and the Saw Gin. — It 

will be seen from the foregoing paras, that the three 
objects which Mr. Finnie had put forward were con- 
nected with the cultivation of New Orleans Cotton, 
the encouragement of the Eyots by purchasing Cotton 
as an Agent, and the introduction, or rather non-intro- 
duction, of the saw gin. Accordingly, in narrating his 
proceedings the three lines of operations here indicated 
will be kept distinct as much as possible. Thus, in 
noticing the proceedings of each season, we shall relate, 
first, what Mr. Finnie achieved in reference to the 
cultivation of American Cotton, either by himself or by 
the Natives ; secondly, what success attended his opera- 
tions as a Cotton Agent ; and, thirdly, what he actually 
did as regards the churka and the saw gin. 

Cultivation of Cotton : tour to Courtallum under 133 
both monsoons, June, 1846. — It has already been stated 
that Mr. Finnie reached Tinnevelly too late in the year 
1845 to attempt the cultivation of American Cotton 
during that season. Also that he had been strongly 
impressed with the opinion that New Orleans Cotton 
would grow wherever the country enjoyed the benefit 
of both monsoons. Accordingly in June, Mr. Einnie's 
1846, Mr. Finnie proceeded on a tour to ^^fjjj} 1 
Courtallum in the western portion of the Pari. Return 
Tinnevelly district, which lies under the ( 1857 ^p- 263 - 
range of mountains between Tinnevelly and the Native 
state of Travancore, and which enjoys the influence 
of both the north-east and south-west monsoons. 

Necessity for the co-operation of the Natives : em- 134 
ployment of hired labour by the European always a 
loss. — Mr. Finnie' s ultimate object was to test the 
capabilities of the large area of country, thus peculiarly 
situated, for the cultivation of the New Orleans variety. 
But his more immediate object was to interest the 
people directly in the new cultivation, by inducing 
some of the more influential Ryots to plant an acre or 
two each, on their own account, but according to his 
directions. Nothing indeed could be done without the 
co-operation of the people ; for it was an established 



86 COTTON IN THE MADBAS PEESIDENCT. [1ST SEASON. 

fact, that if the people would but adopt the improved 
agricultural method, they could always produce the 
raw material, whatever that material might be, very 
much cheaper than any European could do by the 
hired labour system, Mr. Fmnie knew from experi- 
ence that the hired labour system afforded such numer- 
ous opportunities for peculation, that it was impossi- 
ble for a capitalist to follow that system with any profit 
in India in the growth of any article whatever. 

135 First intercourse with the Ryots : allays fears and 
suspicions. — On the 1st of June, 1846, Mr. Einnie 
reached Courtallum, and made the people acquainted 
with his object. On the 3rd, he was visited by some 
of the more respectable Byots, who asked for an ex- 
planation of his object, and at the same time expressed 
their own doubts and fears. Eirst, they thought that 
Mr. Einnie aimed at getting possession of their lands ; 
but he assured them that he wanted nothing beyond 
the bare trial of the experiment, on a small scale the 
first year, and then if successful on a larger scale the 
next. Secondly, they expressed a fear that, if the new 
Cotton succeeded, the Government would raise their 
assessment ; but upon this point he succeeded in satis- 
fying them. Thirdly, the question arose as to where 
they should sell the new Cotton. This last argument 
Mr. Einnie had as yet no authority to parry ; but at 
last he made himself responsible, and promised to take 
all the new Cotton off their hands at the real value of 
the article. 

136 Explains the improved method of culture to the 
Ryots. — Having thus satisfied the scruples of the Na- 
tives, Mr. Einnie went out and planted a small field be- 
fore their eyes. At their desire he then accompanied 
them into the country to look at their fields ; and the 
party increased in numbers as it proceeded, until at last 
he had fifty or sixty people with him, all anxious to adopt 
the new plan and asking for seed. These results en- 
couraged Mr. Einnie to believe that the people would 
speedily cultivate the American Cotton throughout the 
whole area under the influence of both monsoons ; whilst 
those who only cultivated the Native Cotton under the 



1845-46.] ME. EINNIE's FOUR YEABS IN TINNEVELLY. 87 



north-east rains would gradually adopt the new plan 
of sowing in rows, and of ploughing between the rows. 

Mr. Finnie's tour from Courtallum to Coimbatore, 137 
July. — On the 1st of July, Mr. Finnie set 
out from Courtallum on a kind of explor- D^ r ^ m pari! 
ing and itinerant Cotton planting expedi- Return 
tion, along the foot of the hills northwards < 1857 >>P- m 
to Coimbatore. During this tour he was disappointed 
as to the extent of the area of country enjoying the 
benefit of both monsoons. Soon after leaving the 
vicinity of Courtallum, he found the land deprived 
altogether of the south-west monsoon ; and all was arid 
and sterile, until he had advanced beyond Pulney in 
the Madura district, and reached the borders of the 
district of Coimbatore. There, however, the south- 
west monsoon rushes through the Paulghatcherry Pass, 
and fertilizes a large extent of country. 

Preparations for assisting Dr. Wight in completing 138 
the Court's order for 6000 bales. — During Mr. Fin- 
nie's short stay at Coimbatore, Dr. Wight 
had an opportunity of conversing with him, ^tter^sth S 
upon the exertions necessary for compiet- July, 1846. 
ing the order of the Court of Directors (miy^^&s 
for 5000 or 6000 bales of ginned East In- 
dian Cotton. Dr. Wight had already despatched three 
saw gins to Mr. Finnie, and he subsequently applied 
to the Madras Government that Mr. Finnie might be 
permitted to purchase seed Cotton for ginning. 

Mr. Finnie permitted to act as Agent: restricted 139 
to Cotton ginned and prepared on the American prin- 
ciple, August. — Meantime, Mr. Finnie's Minutesof 
request to be permitted to act as a private Consuita- 
Agent for the purchase of Cotton had Feb!,i846. 
been refused. The Madras Government Pari.' Return 
expressed itself fully aware of the import- 
ance of securing a local market to the Cotton growers, 
but considered that Mr. Finnie as a Government 
servant could not engage in commercial adventures. 
Subsequently, however, the Madras Government dis- 
covered that the privilege asked by Mr. Finnie had 
already been granted by the Bombay Government to 



88 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON. 



Mr. Simpson, another American Planter, on the very 
ground urged by Mr. Pinnie; namely, that if the 
Planters appeared as purchasers, their instructions 
would command greater attention than would be given 
to mere abstract recommendations. Accordingly, a 
Minutes of similar permission was granted to Mr. Pin- 
Consuita- nie, but under the same restrictions as 
* Aug!, 1 ! !^. those imposed at Bombay ; namely, that 
a857) Ret 265 P urcnases should he restricted to Cot- 

' i ' p ' ' ton ginned and prepared on the American 
principle. 

140 Restriction removed. — Mr. Pinnie appealed strongly 

against the restriction to ginned Cotton. 

^ter ,i 28tn 3S ^ e re P ea ^ e ^ au his previous objections to 
Aug., 1846. the use of the gin. He again stated that 
^57)^268. wna ^ was wanted was a machine like a 
thresher to clean the staple, before the 
people had separated it from the seed by the churka. 
At the same time Mr. Pinnie requested permission to 
connect himself with a house or houses of Agency, as 
Minutes of he f° un( l it impossible for an isolated in- 
Consuita- dividual to trade in Cotton. Both these 
Nov'.fisL. requests were conceded by the Madras 
ParL ,R etum Government; and thus Mr. Pinnie was 
' p ' ' allowed to act as general Agent for the 
supply of Cotton, and to connect himself with any of 
the houses of Agency. 

141 Mr. Finnie's first year's proceedings with the 
Clxurka, Thresher, and Gin. — Up to this point there 
appears to have been no breach between Dr. Wight 
Dr. Wight's an(i Mr - Pinnie. Dr. "Wight supplied Mr. 
Mter^28th Pinnie with three saw gins, — two of twenty- 
Part Return five saws, and one of twenty saws, — to be 
(1857), p. 266. wor ked by hand. He requested that Mr. 
Pinnie might be furnished with sufficient funds for the 
purchase of seed Cotton to keep his three gins at work. 
He even represented to the Madras Government the 
propriety of purchasing four or five hundred bales of 
the best churkaed Cotton, to be cleaned by the thresher, 
and then to be sent to England, in order to ascertain 
what the best Native Cotton would realize in the 



1845-46.] MR. FIITNTE's FOUR YEARS m TINNEYELLT. 89 



English market. Dr. Wight considered this last mea- 
sure to be of the utmost importance ; inasmuch as the 
native dealers were so accustomed to mix the inferior 
qualities of Cotton with the better sorts, that very few 
samples of the best qualities of Indian Cotton ever 
reached the English market, and consequently much 
ignorance prevailed respecting the average prices which 
such Cotton would realize. Thus the per- Mr p innie > & 
mission granted to Mr. Einnie to purchase letter, 15th 
churkaed Cotton harmonized with Dr. pari' Return 
Wight's own views. A distinction, how- (i857),p.267. 
ever, must be made between the authority Dr. Wight's 
which he received to purchase on Govern- gept r, i846 
ment account seed Cotton for ginning Pari. Return 
towards making up the 6000 bales, and the (1857) ' p ' 337 ' 
churkaed Cotton for threshing to make up the 600 
bales ; and the permission granted him to purchase 
any Cotton he pleased on private account, as agent 
to any merchant who might consider it expedient to 
engage his services. This, however, will be noticed 
further on. Meantime it will be sufficient to say 
that Mr. Einnie secured the thresher already al- 
luded to. He also ordered an American hand gin 
made by Mr. Idler of Philadelphia, on the ground 
that the gins made in America had been found to 
work with less labour, and to turn out nearly double 
the quantity of Cotton, than those made in England. 
Both purchases were supported by Dr. Wight, and 
sanctioned by the Madras Government. Nothing of 
course was done during the first season, as Mr. Fmnie's 
Mr. Einnie could not obtain Cotton except 0^846* 
of the poorest quality, and moreover had no Pari Return 
house in which to set up his gins. (i857),p.339. 

Queries submitted to Mr. Finnie by the Marquis 142 
of Tweeddale. — Before entering upon the second year 
of Mr. Einnie' s operations in Tinnevelly, it may be as 
well to bring forward the results of his experience in 
reference to the cultivation of Cotton both 
in America and India. Dr. Wight's Notes ara " 
on American Agriculture, which he drew Mnmte bjr 
up at the request of Lord Elphinstone, have f TwS-" 8 



90 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON, 



Dec' 1847 already been exhibited in the second chap- 
Pari.' Return ter. In the same way Mr. Finnie replied 
169?^' P a * considerable length to certain queries 
propounded by the Marquis of Tweeddale ; 
and the results are accordingly condensed and arranged 
in a similar form. 

ME. FINNIE' S "NOTES ON COTTON CULTIVATION 
IN AMERICA AND INDIA." 

143 Early cultivation of Cotton in America : compared 
with the present cultivation in India. — The earliest 
Cotton cultivated in North America is 
answers™ S supposed to have been brought from the 
of the Mar Grecian Archipelago. It was first tried in 
quis of " Virginia, but the season between the last 
i6lhNov le ' frost of spring and the first frost of autumn 
1847. Pari. was found to be too short to produce a profit- 
OL857) j>. 178. a ^ e cro P- Still, however, it was raised for 
domestic consumption, until a more favour- 
able climate was discovered. Subsequently, the early 
emigrants, journeying westward from Virginia to Ken- 
tucky, carried the Cotton seed with them, but still 
found the climate too severe. At last it was cultivated 
with much success in the more southern province of 
Tennessee, where the summer season was slightly 
longer. In that early period the saw gin was un- 
known. The seed was separated from the Cotton in a 
more primitive way even than by the Indian churka, 
for the American people employed no machine beyond 
their own fingers. At that time the circumstances of 
the American settlers were almost analogous to those 
of the Indian Ryots ; for the work was done when the 
people could employ their time in no other way. Dur- 
ing the long winter evenings, and during bad weather, 
when no out- door work could be performed, the Negro 
men and children were engaged in separating the Cot- 
ton from the seed, whilst the Negro women were em- 
ployed in spinning and weaving the wool to clothe 
themselves and the family. Gradually the gin was 



1845-46.] ME. FIKNIE's FOUR TEARS IN TrOTEVELLY. 91 

introduced. One gin house was established in every 
neighbourhood, and ginned the Cotton for the neigh- 
bouring farmers, whilst the owner of the gin received 
ayment in kind. But meantime adventurous settlers 
ad pushed still further to the South. The climate of 
Alabama and Mississippi was found to be even more 
favourable to the plant than that of Tennessee; and 
there every planter soon had a gin-house of his own. 
Thus the luxuriant South reduced the Kentucky and 
Tennessee Cotton to a mere domestic product ; but 
even within Mr. Einnie's recollection, that is, about 
1820, the ~N"egro men and women would gather in some 
neighbourhoods round a blazing fire during the long 
winter evenings, to hand-pick the seeds out of the Cot- 
ton, which the women were to spin the next day. 

Climate discovered to be of more importance than 144 
soil. — During this period of emigration, the early ad- 
venturers had discovered, as we have already seen, that 
as they advanced towards the South, the Cotton shrub 
became more and more prolific, and produced a finer 
quality of wool. This result is to be attributed not 
only to the superiority of the soil, but also to the 
greater suitability of climate. Though soil, says Mr. 
Finnie, exercises much influence on the quantity and 
quality of the Cotton, climate is the great desideratum. 
A good soil in a favourable climate will produce a large 
quantity of fine Cotton ; a poor soil in a favourable 
climate will produce Cotton a little inferior ; but an 
unfavourable climate and poor soil will produce an 
article inferior in quality and deficient in quantity. 
But however rich the soil may be, no profitable crop 
can be produced unless the climate is propitious. 
These remarks refer to the climate which is essential 
to the production of American Cotton. As regards 
the climate of Southern India, Mr. Finnie believed 
(1847) that it produced a very good article of indigen- 
ous Cotton, which only required care and cleanliness 
to render it very useful and valuable. He feared, how- 
ever, that the Indian climate was not suited to the New 
Orleans variety. 



92 C0TT01S" m THE MADE AS PEESIDEtfCY. [1ST SEASON 

I 

145 Nature of the lands in America on which the Ame- 
rican plant is grown. — All land in the Southern States 
of America on which Cotton is grown has been cleared 
from forest at a comparatively late period. The Cot- 3 
ton does not produce a good crop in the first season c 
after the land is cleared ; the great quantity of extra- 
neous matter causing it to grow to long watery shoots, j 
which yield no fruit. Accordingly Indian corn is ge- 1 
nerally grown as the first crop. The land, however, j 
is peculiarly suited to the Cotton plant, being a rich 
vegetable loam, with a deep clay sub-soil ; and it is, 1 
moreover, situated in a favourable climate. 

146 Manure, consisting of old stalks and rotten seed, j 
buried in a furrow between the rows. — The land, says 
Mr. Finnic, is manured when required. The poor old 
land is manured early in the spring, by running a deep 
furrow between the old rows, which are filled up with 
the old Cotton stalks ; but the poorest lands have some 
other manure added, of which well-rotted Cotton seed 
is found to be the best. Here America differs from 
India, for it produces so many better things than Cot- 
ton seeds as food for cattle, that the seeds are of no 
value. When the manure has thus been laid in the 
furrow, it is covered up by running two furrows, so that 
the mole laps, and forms a slight ridge over the manure ; 
and in this state the stalks and seed are allowed to lie 
until the planting season, by which time they are well 
rotted. The advantage of this operation is two-fold : 
first, the land is manured ; and secondly, half the plough- 
ing is accomplished which is necessary for preparing 
the land for planting. The operation, as already seen, 

is carried out very early in the spring, before the frost 
has ceased to fall ; and when the frost is over and all 
fear of it has ceased, one or two furrows are ploughed 
along either side of the manure ridge, which is subse- 
quently broken up. This is done to save time, the great 
object being to get the seed into the ground as early as 
possible. 

147 Climate: very humid at night, but hot in the day. 

— The climate is damp all over America, but in the 
Southern States it is very humid, causing heavy dews 



1845-46.] ME. EIOTIE ON COTTON CULTIVATION. 93 



and thick fogs at night ; these, however, are soon dis- 
pelled on the appearance of a bright snn, which usually 
prevails in the morning and during the whole day. 
The rains may be thus characterized. During spring, 
summer, and autumn they consist of heavy bursts of fre- 
quent showers. During the winter the climate is pro- 
verbially described as consisting of three heavy white 
frosts, and a hot sun in the day, which is succeeded by 

• a heavy rain, generally of one day's duration, but occa- 
sionally extending over ten days. 

Rotation of crops : alternation with Indian corn oc- 148 
casionally necessary. — The Cotton plant fills the land 
so full of its own excretions, that after a few years the 

• ground is rendered unsuitable for the reproduction of 

• the plant in a healthy state. But Mr. Finnie doubted 

I whether the continued crops exhausted the soil ; for if 
the lands, said to be exhausted, were planted for one 

i year with Indian corn, they would produce a fine crop 
of the corn, and the next year would be again fitted for 

! the production of Cotton. 

Capital required in American cultivation. — Any sum 149 
from 20,000 dollars to 200,000 might be invested in 
an estate. The first amount would yield a handsome 
profit, provided it were well managed by the owner 
himself ; though it would not justify the employment 
of a superintendent. But 200,000 dollars well laid out, 
made a handsome property ; and was as much as one 
superintendent, whether owner or employer, could look 
after in detail, with the assistance of his Negro drivers. 
There were many planters, however, who owned several 
such estates ; and the details of each were para 
conducted by a superintendent, whose re- 
putation was involved in its success or failure, that is, 
in the profit or loss of the estate entrusted to his charge. 

Successive operations necessary to raise a crop: 150 
cleaning old land and clearing new. — In America, says 
Mr. Finnie, the life of a Cotton Planter is one of inces- 
sant labour. In the first place, great care is necessary 
to ensure a good and regular stand of plants ; and, se- 
condly, in the gathering season, constant attention is 
necessary to ensure the cleanliness of the Cotton : but 



94 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON. 

when the hands employed have been once brought 
under strict discipline, they give but little further 
trouble to the Planter. The operations of the year may 
be thus described. The week's holiday, which is an- 
nually granted to the negroes, is over by the first of Janu- 
ary. The first operations of the Planter are to clean 
and prepare his old land, and to clear a piece of new. 
On the old land, advantage is taken of every interval of 
fine weather, for a few steady ploughmen to run the 
manure furrow already described between the old Cot- 
ton rows ; while women and children follow them, and 
beat down the old stalks and lay them in the furrow. If 
necessary, the carts follow with the manure, and then the 
ploughs again run over the land to cover up the manure 
at once. On the new land, the trees are cut down for 
fences, whilst the under-grown and thick canes are cut 
flat to the ground, and when sufficiently dry, are set on 
fire and burnt off clean. Before the embers are cold, 
this new land is planted with Indian corn ; because 
the latter is not so delicate as Cotton, and is not killed 
by the frost. The three agricultural operations of 
planting, scraping, and gathering may now be described 
in their natural order. 
151 Planting. — The planting season lasts from the first 
to the thirteenth of April. The first of April is the 
great commencing day, and then every available 
" plough team " is put in harness, and often the carriage 
horses are pressed into the service of the plough. A 
few additional furrows are thrown to the slight manure 
ridge already mentioned, in order that the closing fur- 
row may drain the surplus spring showers. JS*ext fol- 
lows the drill, which opens the ridge ; whilst an active 
woman keeps pace with the horse, and sows the seed 
in a beautiful straight line in the little furrow opened 
by the drill. The interval between the plants varies ac- 
cording to the poorness or richness of the soil. In poor 
land the Cotton is planted close together, but in rich 
lands wide apart, thus reversing the order of grain hus- 
bandry. Accordingly, the plants are sown in rows 
from four to eight feet apart, varying according to the 
quality of the land ; and the seed is left in the drill in 



1845-46.] ME. FIN1STE ON COTTON CULTIVATION. 95 

I corresponding intervals of from six to twelve inches, 
i or even of fifteen inches where the land is very rich. 

In India three inches in the drill, and two feet 
. between the rows, is sufficient in the best lands. After 
■ sowing, the harrow follows immediately, and lightly 
f covers the seed ; and this operation brings the work of 

the planting season to a close. Here it may be re- 
! marked that one steady ploughman with his horse and 
j drill ; one woman to sow the seed, with a little boy to 

wait on her and supply the seed ; and a large boy with 
[ his harrow drawn by a horse ; will altogether plant 
i ten acres per diem. 

! " Scraping" or hoeing. — The scraping season com- 152 
I mences immediately after the plants are above-ground, 
i This operation is very important, as the success of the 
j crop mainly depends upon the neatness and accuracy 
i of the scraping. The great point is to secure a good 
, stand of plants ; that is, to leave the plants in regular 
j intervals, and proportioned in width to the poorness or 
I strength of the land. To achieve this object a few care- 
) ful Negro drivers give their whole care and attention 
j to it, following the hoemen to see that neither too 
much nor too little is taken away. The Cotton as it 
comes up stands thick in the drill. The hoe is passed 
i through the mass of plants, and cuts away in width as 
i the hoeman is directed by the driver, leaving two plants 
i in a place, thus 

If both the plants live, one of them is pulled out at the 
I next hoeing. A ploughman follows these scrapers or 
hoemen, and runs a slight furrow on both sides of each 
Cotton row, throwing a little dirt gently among the 
plants, to replace that which had been taken away by 
the hoe. Alternate ploughing and hoeing thus con- 
tinue in rapid succession, each round occupying from 
fifteen to twenty days, until at length the pods begin 
to open. During this period, time can scarcely be 
found to gather the " fodder " from the Indian corn, or 
even to obtain the grain when it has at last ripened. 

Gathering. — The gathering season commences about 153 
the middle of July, when only a few of the first-formed 
bolls begin to open. Before, however, these have been 



96 COTTON m THE MADEAS PKESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON. 

gathered from the whole plantation, the beautiful snow- 
white tufts of vegetable wool begin to appear, thickly 
interspersed amongst the deep green and yellow flowers. 
jFrom that time until Christmas there is no cessation 
of labour. Six days in the week from daylight to dark 
the hands are in the field, except when they are inter- 
rupted by rain, which is always injurious during the 
picking season, when dry weather is most desired. 
Every evening the day's gathering is weighed to see 
that each hand has done its duty ; every hand being 
expected to pick from 150 to 250 lbs. per diem, aver- 
aging in fine weather about 200 lbs. ; a result which 
strangely contrasts with similar work in India, where 
Mr. Finnic never heard of a hand-gathering exceeding 
fifteen pounds, and where from seven to ten pounds is 
the usual day's work. After the weighing of the day's 
gathering, the Cotton is carried in waggons to the gin- 
house, and the day's work is over. Next day the Cot- 
ton is spread out on plank scaffolds to dry ; and a few 
superannuated Negroes pick it over, and take out the 
trash that may have accidentally got mixed with it. 
Thus the seed Cotton goes to the gin almost free from 
trash, and consequently comes out clean. 
154* Uncertainty of weather: average crops. — As re- 
gards the general failure of the Cotton crop, Mr. Einnie 
says that he had never known of such a case in Ame- 
rica. Every year the speculators who have a stock to 
sell get up a cry of failure ; whilst those who wish to 
buy exaggerate the probable produce of the season in 
order to lessen the price. The reason why there never 
is a general failure seems to be as follows. Poor and 
rich lands are interspersed through the whole country, 
except immediately on the river ; and whilst the poor 
lands produce the finest crops in a wet season, the new 
rich hill lands, and all river bottom lands, produce the 
best crops in a dry season, or rather in what the Ame- 
ricans would call a dry season. In estimating the 
climate, however, it is necessary to bear in mind that 
the Americans plant their Cotton in the spring, at a 
time when lands in general have been saturated by all 
the winter rains, and when it is often difficult to get 



1845-46.] ME. FINKIE Otf COTTON CULTIVATION. 97 

the ground dry enough to plant nicely. Again, after 
sowing, a good rain is essential to a perfect stand of 
plants ; and indeed during the planting season, it usu- 
ally falls at intervals of a few days. If no rain falls on 
the newly-sown field, the plants come up irregularly. 
Again, if a very heavy rain falls on the newly-sown 
Cotton, and a hot sun follows immediately after- 
wards ; then, if the ground be old and clayey, it 
bakes over the seed, and becomes so hard that the 

; plant cannot make its way through it ; and a light 
wooden-tooth harrow is often run over it to break the 
crust, and thus to let the young plants appear above- 
ground. But as regards weather, the Planter is a pro- 
verbial grumbler. It is always too dry or too wet. If 
he does not get rain every six or eight days during the 
whole ploughing and hoeing season, he grumbles, and 
frets, and loses all patience at seeing his " hands " work- 
ing to so great disadvantage in the hard land ; wearing 
out his hoes, wearing out the files for keeping the hoes 
sharp, and obliging his blacksmiths to be always em- 
ployed in keeping the ploughs in order. Then the 

i Planter in the old hills or uplands is raving because his 
plants do not grow in dry weather ; whilst his neigh- 
bour on the river "bottoms" is raving because his 
plants grow too fast in wet weather. Thus the crop is 
always pretty regular, except when attacked by the 
bug or caterpillar ; but this casualty seldom happens. 
The usual rough estimate of an average crop is a bale 
of 400 lbs. of clean Cotton per acre ; the seed Cotton 
yielding from 30 to 31 per cent, of clean Cotton. Mr. 
Pinnie considered that some lands might produce such 
a crop ; but he was inclined to estimate the average at 
about 300 lbs. of clean Cotton per acre. 

Expenses of Cotton cultivation : produce estimated, 155 
not at so much per acre, but at four to eight bales per 
Negro. — According to Mr. Pinnie, it is impossible to 
calculate in detail the expenses of cultivating one acre 
of Cotton ; because there are slaves employed, who re- 
ceive no wages, and who are also employed in culti- 
vating other things beside Cotton. The produce is 
always roughly estimated at so many bales to the 

H 



98 COTTON IN THE MADKAS PRESIDENCY. [1ST SEASON. 

" hand," varying from four to eight, according to the 
ability of the Planter and the season. This estimate 
is exclusive of the other things produced for home con- 
sumption. All thrifty planters produce all their coarse 
supplies, such as bread, meat, vegetables, and similar 
articles for the Negroes' food. Formerly the Negroes' 
clothing was also made at home ; but now the ma- 
chinery has long supplanted the hand-wheel. Alto- 
gether the Planter now (1847) does not realize above 
eight per cent, for his money ; but then he lives on 
the produce of the estate, with the exception of such 
luxuries as his habits and tastes require. 
156 Machinery, Gin-house, Gins, Press, and Drawing 
Machinery. — The expense of American machinery per 
acre cannot be calculated any more than the expense 
of cultivation. The following machinery must be pur- 
chased by the Planter, whether he produces one hun- 
dred bales of Cotton, or six hundred ; excepting per- 
haps that he might produce the former with one gin 
only, whereas he would require two gins to produce the 
latter. 

Dollars. 

Gin-house from 2000 to . . 2500 

Two Gins . . . . from 350 to 400 each, say 700 
Single Iron Screw Press . . from 500 to . . 550 
Driving machinery fitted up from 500 to . . 600 

Total Dollars 4350 

But the mode of procedure in America is so different 
from that in India, that the most exact estimate in de- 
tail of a gin-house and the necessary machinery would 
afford no criterion for the arrangements which would 
prove most beneficial in the latter country. Here in 
India it will be necessary to give the people something 
more simple than the gin and large gin-houses for their 
own use in cleaning their own Cotton. In fact, the 
seeds of the Indian Cotton are so small, that if the 
grates of the gin are placed close enough together to 
prevent the seed from passing through, the saws bring 
the Cotton so much in contact with the bars, as to cut 



1845-46.] ME. FINNIE 01ST COTTON CULTIVATION. 99 

it to a degree that much injures the staple. Accord- 
ingly, Mr. Finnie considered that the American gin 
was only suited to the American Cotton ; that the two 
must go hand in hand ; and where the American Cot- 
ton failed, the gin would prove useless. 

Price of Land: fluctuates with the price of Cotton. 157 
— The rent of land in Southern America, as part of the 
cost of producing Cotton, could not be estimated by 
Mr. Finnie. In the Southern States, he said, every 
Planter is a landlord, from the squatter with his small 
section, to the capitalist with his twenty thousand acres. 
Land rent is thus unknown, and the value of an estate 
is never calculated so closely. A Planter who is com- 
pelled to sell, takes what his neighbours are disposed 
to give him. Sometimes a wealthy neighbour will offer 
a very high price for a good plantation in his immediate 
neighbourhood, because he wants it for an especial ob- 
ject. Again, it is very often the case that three- 
fourths, and sometimes seven-eighths of an estate, are 
uncleared forest ; and consequently the whole value 
cannot be estimated according to the produce of that 
which is under culture. In a word, land in the South- 
ern States has no fixed value, but seems to fluctuate 
with the price of Cotton. 

Minimum price at which American Cotton could be 158 
produced, four pence per pound. — As an illustration of 
the cost at which Cotton was produced in America, Mr. 
Finnie furnished the following interesting data. Some- 
time about 1840, when the question of a Cotton supply 
from India was seriously agitated, a meeting was called 
of the most intelligent and distinguished Planters, in 
order to determine upon the best method of counter- 
acting the efforts which were being made in that direc- 
tion. It was then decided that so long as the American 
Planters could get eight cents (4d.) per lb. for their Cot- 
ton, delivered at the nearest market, they could afford 
to produce it ; but that if a supply from any other quar- 
ter could be obtained for less than that sum, they must 
then turn their attention to the cultivation of other com- 
modities. Thus by adding Id. per lb. to the 4<d. for ex- 
penses to England, we have the minimum price, 5d. per 



100 COTTON TN THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [LST SEASON. 

lb., at which it is said America can produce the article. 
All therefore that remained to be done in India, was the 
production of an article of an equal quality but at less 
cost. 

159 Prospects of India : labour in America and India 
compared. — Mr. Finnie believed that the consumption 
of Cotton would increase in the same ratio as the pro- 
duction ; that under any circumstances all good Ame- 
rican Cotton, and all good Indian Cotton, would ever 
find a market. America could not be easily supplanted, 
whilst she retained all her advantages of enterprise, 
industry, climate, soil, rivers, steam-boats, and rail- 
roads. On the other hand, India possessed a territory 
that would produce a pretty good article of " New 
Orleans Cotton," and that was equal in extent to the 
whole Cotton- growing region in America ; but then to 
render the cultivation successful, the people must carry 
it on themselves. Here however, in the matter of 
cheap labour, India possessed a decided advantage. 
The interest of the money invested in the purchase of 
a labourer in America, added to the actual cost of his 
maintenance, would pay for nine able-bodied men in 
India. It was true that the American labourer, as one 
of many, not only provided for the comfort of his 
master, and supported himself, but he actually enriched 
his master ; whilst the nine Indian labourers would 
not produce enough, in their capacity of servants to 
the European, to pay their own wages, to say nothing 
of paying the land-rent and affording a profit to their 
employer. But still, if the people of India could only 
be induced to undertake themselves the improved cul- 
tivation of the American Cotton, the advantages they 
possessed in numerical strength, and in the trifling 
cost at which they could be supported, more than 
counterbalanced the advantages possessed by America 
in the shape of greater quantity of Cotton produced 
per acre and a finer quality of Cotton wool. 

160 Reduction of the Indian land-tax on Cotton grounds 
would neither benefit the Eyot nor extend the cul- 
ture. — As regarded the land-tax in India, or Grovern- 
ment assessment upon the lands, Mr. Finnie said that 



1845-48.] ME. FINNIE OK COTTON CULTIVATION. 101 



there was no land-tax in America. At the same time 
he expressed an opinion that a general reduction or 
abolition of the land-tax on Cotton grounds would 
neither benefit the Ryots nor extend the culture of 
American Cotton. There might be individual cases 
where the land-tax was oppressive, and where the 
load ought to be removed ; but a general reduction 
would effect nothing. At present the Ryot goes into 
debt to the extent of his means : if his means are in- 
creased, his credit is increased in a like ratio ; and 
he avails himself of his credit to the fullest extent, 
and his banker reaps the benefit. Therefore, if Go- 
vernment did not collect a pice of revenue, the " poor 
oppressed Indian Ryot" might cease to be the theme 
of declaimers and grievance mongers, but he would be 
the "poor oppressed Indian Ryot" still. The only 
difference would be, that he would change his European 
master who had tried to deal fairly with him, for a 
ruthless monied fellow-countryman, whose sense of 
justice would not be very acute. 

Mr. Einnie's Second Season, 1846-47 : planting oper- 161 
ations succeeded at Courtallum but failed at Seva- 
causey. — To return to the narrative of Mr. Finnie's 
proceedings in Tinnevelly. At the commencement of 
the second season he planted some New Mr pi nn i e ' S 
Orleans Cotton at Courtallum, which en- ^tte^&th 
joyed the benefit of both monsoons, and 24th Sept., 
also at Sevacausey, which enjoyed the bene- Return^ 1 ' 
fit of only the north-east monsoon. The (1857), p. 273 
results are not given in any detail. At and279 - 
Courtallum only a small quantity was planted ; but 
though the land was bad, and the cultivation was much 
neglected by the people who undertook it, yet the crop 
proved to be of a fine quality, and under the circum- 
stances produced a good return. At Sevacausey the 
result was different. Not a plant lived through the 
long drought which generally prevailed, excepting those 
which had been sown on one small field, that had been 
cultivated and irrigated by a Ryot of intelligence and 
zeal. This field yielded a crop of American Cotton 



102 COTTON m THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2]STD SEASON. 



which was much liked by the people, and they ex^ 
pressed a willingness to plant it again the next year. 
Mr. Finnie's Accordingly Mr. Finnie distributed seed, 
ManSi 1 !^ an( ^ a S ree( i ^° take the produce in seed 
Pari. Return Cotton before separation, at two rupees 
(1857), p. 364. per po ahee of 280 lbs. above the market 
value of the Native article. This purchase is said to 
have been insisted upon, because the Eyots had found 
that they could not separate the staple from the seed 
by their own rude churka ; thus rendering it necessary 
that all American Cotton should be separated by the 
American gin. The result properly belongs to the 
proceedings of the next season ; but it will perhaps be 
sufficient to say that this crop also proved an utter 
failure. 

162 Mr. Finnie is disappointed as an Agent : proposal to 
employ Government Funds. — The Agency operations 
of Mr. Finnie during the second season were just as 
Mr. Pinnie's disappointing as his planting operations. 

Dec er i846 h He found that tfte Merchants of Madras 
Pari'. Return and Ceylon had already established their 
(1857), p. 346. owu Agents in Tinnevelly, and that con- 
sequently he must look to other Cotton trading ports 
for that co-operation from the merchant, which was 
indispensable to his success. Moreover, in consequence 
of the delay of nearly a year in granting him permission 
to act as Agent, the gathering season for 1846-47 was 
so near at hand, that he feared he should not be able 
to establish a business connexion in time to accomplish 
much by that year's Agency. Accordingly he pro- 
posed that beside erecting the gin-house, and setting 
up the machinery, Government should place a sum of 
money at his disposal. With this money he would 
purchase Cotton, and ship it to a mercantile firm in 
England, in order that it might be sold, and the amount 
of sales be rendered to him direct. By these means he 
would be in possession of every item of the expense, 
and would thus be enabled to draw up an annual 
statement of profit and loss, for the information of 
Government and of all parties interested in the ques- 
tion. If the Grovernment could not comply with this 



1846-47.] ME. FITSTPriE's FOUR YEAES IK TI^NEYELLT. 103 



request, he was prepared to clean and ship Cotton on 
his own account to the extent of 30,000 rupees, pro- 
vided that Government would let him have Minutes of 
that amount upon the security of Govern- Consuita- 
ment paper, without charging him any in- peb.'i84ff. 
terest on the loan. This proposition fell Pari! Return 
to the ground, as the Government declined ( 1857 )>p- S50 - 
to advance money to Mr. Finnie for the purchase of 
Cotton on his own account. ( 

Mr. Finnie's second year's operations with the 163 
Churka, Thresher, and Gin. — At the commencement of 
this second season, Mr. Finnie expressed himself still 
anxious to gin a quantity of Cotton towards completing 
the Company's order for six thousand bales. For this 
object, a gin-house was necessary in which to work his 
gins, and to obtain this was a work of time. Mean- 
while he had a second object in view ; namely, to in- 
duce the Natives to engage in the business. Accord- 
ingly it will be advisable to review, first, his efforts to 
persuade the Natives to use the gin ; and secondly, 
his efforts to obtain a house for the working of the 
gins. 

Sale of two Gins to neighbouring Zemindars : their 164 
failure. — As regards the former measure, he appeared 
in the first instance to have achieved a Mr. Einnie's 
great success. He had actually prevailed Q^if^l 1 ' 
on two Zemindars of villages to purchase Pari! Return 
each a gin; he, on his part, agreeing to Sr?FmniSa 
take all the Cotton they ginned at a fair letter, 25th 

rrYL 4. • 1. 4- Oct., 1846. 

price. The gins were set up in houses not p ar i. Return 
exactly fitted for them; but still the ex- (1857), p. 369. 
periment was tried, and Mr. Finnie had the pleasure of 
subsequently reporting that the gins were a failure. 
Their working, he said, was both imperfect and expen- 
sive. The saw wheels did not project sufficiently 
through the grates, and the staple was only partially 
separated from the seed. Again, the gins moved so 
heavily, that the people employed to work them re- 
fused to turn the wheel after the second day. Mr. 
Finnie thought that coercion might do them good, but 
remembered that they were free men. .Next he thought 



104 COTTOK IB THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 

of employing cattle labour, as we shall presently see. 
At a later period however he discovered that the 
coolies had been either forced to work, or had been 
only half paid. Consequently their inability had been 
assumed. 

165 Cotton Brokers rather than Zemindars should be 
induced to adopt the Gin. — Mr. Finnie then expressed 
Mr. Mmiie's tne °P m i° n that Cotton Brokers rather 
letter, i6th than Zemindars should be induced to adopt 
Pari! Return the gin. The two Zemindars who had 
(i857),p. 846. bought the gins paid little attention to 
business, and committed the work to some of their 
numerous dependents ; and the latter were ever ready 
to peculate, by charging heavy expenses to the working 
of the new machine, and appropriating the surplus over 
the actual expenditure to their private uses. Con- 
sequently, the profits, whether large or small, were ail 
absorbed. Mr. Finnie however had found that a clas3 
of men, known as Cotton Brokers, were settled in all 
the large towns in the best Cotton districts ; and that 
it was the business of these men to purchase seed 
Cotton, to separate the seed from the wool, and then 
to sell both seed and wool separately. These men of 
course looked after their own affairs, inasmuch as their 
profits were derived from their own transactions. Ac- 
cordingly, Mr. Finnie considered that the Brokers 
ought to be induced to adopt the gin as the best mode 
of separating the fibre from the seed : and that there- 
fore it would be necessary to convince them of its 
advantages by experiments conducted on the most 
economical scale. 

166 Mr. Einnie's proposals for erecting a Gin-house and 
Cattle-driving Machinery in Tinnevelly. — Meantime, 
— that is, in October, 1846, — Mr. Finnie had formed 
Mr. Einnie's the design of erecting a gin-house and 
Diary , 2ist driving machinery in Tinnevelly, for the 

Oct., 1846. & „ /. , . . < , J , , 

Pari. Return purpose oi working his gms by cat Lie 
(1857), p. ss9. i ns tead of by manual labour. In a word, 
he desired to set up in Tinnevelly an establishment 
similar to that of Dr. Wight in Coimbatore. He 
accordingly made the following proposals. 1st, To 



1846-47.] ME. FINNIE's FOrE- TEARS IN TINNEVELLY. 105 



erect a cheap house, in which either the gin or the 
thresher might be worked as circumstances required ; 
and which would give such a permanence to the busi- 
ness, as would engage the confidence of the Natives 
around. 2nd, To purchase a set of new driving ma- 
chinery which was for sale at Jaffna in Ceylon at the 
price of £155. Both these two propositions sub- 
sequently underwent some extraordinary transform- 
ations. The second however involved the relative 
merits of cattle labour and manual labour, and there- 
fore may be first discussed. 

Purchase of Cattle-driving Machinery sanctioned: 167 
relative cost of cattle labour and manual labour. — 
Mr. Einnie's proposal for the purchase of Dr Wight's 
the cattle-driving machinery was strongly letter, nth 
supported by Dr. Wight, and accordingly pS* Return 
sanctioned by the Madras Government. (1857), p. 838. 
There was some discussion about the locality, but 
finally the village of Sevacausey was chosen Mr -p. j , 
in the district of Tinnevelly, as being the Diary, 21st 
centre of an extensive Cotton-growing ££t., 
country, and also as containing many es- (i857),p. 339. 
tablishments for separating the Cotton JSteriSfch S 
staple from the seed with the Madras j^^' 184 ^ 7 
churka. As regarded cattle labour and 1 ' p ' 
manual labour, Dr. Wight had already tried both 
methods in Coimbatore. For the first three seasons 
he had worked his gins by hand labour, the Dr wight's 
coolies contracting to gin so many maunds letter, nth 
of seed Cotton for a certain sum. Sub- Pari'.' Return 
sequently he had employed cattle labour, (i857),p.338. 
and then he had discovered that cattle labour in gin- 
ning was more expensive than coolie labour. But still 
Dr. Wight strongly urged that the experiment should 
be tried, as coolies might be dearer in Tinnevelly than 
they had proved to be in Coimbatore. 

Change in Mr. Finnie's views as regards the Cattle- 168 
driving Machinery. — By this time Mr. Finnie's mind 
had undergone an apparently unaccountable change. 
The proposal for purchasing the driving machinery had 
been made in October, 1848. In November it had been 



106 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 



forwarded to Government with the recommendation of 
Dr. Wight ; and on the 2nd January, 1847, the pur- 
Mr. Einnie's cnase naa received the necessary sanction, 
letter, 13th On the 13th January, Mr. Finnie acknow- 
Pari'. Return ledged the receipt of the authority to pur- 
(1857), p. 350. chase, but stated that he had changed his 
mind as to the expediency of employing cattle labour, 
and was considering whether by lessening the friction 
of the gins, they could not be driven best by manual 
labour. He therefore requested that the purchase 
Dr. Wight's #' might he postponed. Dr. Wight seems to 
letter, isth ' have been somewhat irritated by this sudden 
Pari! Return change in the mind of Mr. Finnie. He 
(1857), p. 348. stated that the purchase of the machinery 
had been fairly completed ; and that without such 
machinery it would be impossible to complete the 
Court's order for six thousand bales. He therefore 
urged that a house should be procured, and that the 
cattle- driving machinery should be fitted up at once : 
that two large gins, of sixty saw wheels each, should 
be worked by the cattle machinery at one end of the 
See ara 171 room ' whilst three or four smaller 

eepara. . gj ns? Q f twenty and twenty-five saws each, 
should be worked by coolies at the other end of the 
Minutes of room - The result w r as that the Madras 
Consul ta- Government ordered the purchase money 
April, 2 i847. f° r ^ ne driving machinery to be paid. At 
Pari. Return the same time, Mr. Finnie was called upon 
(185 ),p.354. ^ Q S £ a £ e wna fc h e now intended to do with 

the machinery, and what arrangements he had made 
for driving his gins by manual labour. His attention 
was also drawn to a recent despatch from the Court of 
Directors, stating that the Manchester Association 
objected to the use of hand gins. 
169 Mr. Finnie' s explanation of his apparent inconsist- 
encies. — Mr. Finnie's explanation of the causes which 
Mr. Finnie's n * m *° a dvise tne purchase may be 

letter, 29th given in a few words. The Ceylon ma- 
ParL Return ehinery had been recommended to him by 
(1857), p. 355. both Dv. Wight and Mr. Petrie as early as 
February, 1846 ; but being anxious to conduct his 



1846-47.] MR. FINJQE's FOUR TEARS I1ST THSTNEYELLY. 107 

operations on the most economical plan, he had not 
concurred in their views. Subsequently, he had found 
greater difficulty than he had anticipated in working 
the gins on the two Zemindaries by manual labour ; 
and had consequently formed a poor opinion of the 
physical ability of the people. At the same time, 
whilst strongly opposed to the use of the gin, he felt 
that it ought not to be rejected on insufficient data. 
Accordingly, though he had represented that ginning 
operations were impracticable as a mercantile trans- 
action, yet he had recommended the purchase of the 
driving machinery, in order that no efforts on his 
part might be left untried for giving the experiment a 
fair trial. His reasons for subsequently opposing the 
purchase were as follows. 1st, Mr. Petrie had so far 
altered the gins, as to remove some of the greatest 
difficulties in the way of a successful application of 
manual labour. 2nd, He found that the coolies who 
worked for the Zemindars were either forced or only 
half paid ; and that when Mr. Petrie' s improvements 
had been effected, the people were both able and will- 
ing to work, provided they were paid. 3rd, Hand gins 
were new to him, as they were never used in Missis- 
sippi ; but after giving further attention to the subject, 
he had resolved on a plan which would give greater 
efficiency to manual labour. 4th, He had calculated 
the extraordinary expenses of driving machinery, such 
as the cost of the machinery itself, the cost of trans- 
portation across the Gulf, the cost of transit to the gin- 
house up country, the cost of erection, and, last but 
not least, the cost of keeping up an establishment of 
bullocks all the year round merely to work during the 
Cotton season. 5th, He considered that the driviug 
machinery had been made to go at a certain speed when 
drawn by horses walking about four miles an hour ; 
and that the gins would consequently move too slowly 
when drawn by bullocks whose speed would not exceed 
two miles an hour. The general question however 
appeared to be partly settled by the Manchester Asso- 
ciation, who had expressed a decided preference for 
the gins moved by cattle machinery over the gins 



108 COTTON I£T THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [2lST> SEASON. 



moved by hand. But, notwithstanding this authority, 
Mr. Finnie still believed that the experiment which 
was about to be conducted would test the relative 
merits of cattle gins and hand gins ; and would thus 
prove more satisfactory to the merchants and manu- 
facturers than if conducted with the cattle machinery 
alone. The President of the Association had indeed 
said that the hand gins should not be used until their 
efficiency had been more fully proved ; but how was 
their efficiency to be proved excepting by their being 
used ? 

Mr. Finnie' s general objections to the Gin discussed 
by Dr. Wight. — Whilst this discussion had been car- 
ried on about the driving machinery, another discus- 
Paras. 130, s i° n na( l been going on about the gin ge- 
131 - nerally. Mr. Eiunie's views have already 

been exhibited. He considered that the gin was unfit 
for Indian Cotton, and that the churka was 
unfit for American Cotton. Again, he had 
urged that the expense of the gin was sufficient to 
deter the Ryot from using it. His arguments upon 
this point were referred to Dr. Wight, and the latter 
dealt with them thus. The whole question of gin 
Dr WMit's versus churka depends upon whether gin- 
letter, 7th ned Cotton will fetch a higher price in the 
Pari! Return English market than churkaed Cotton ; 
(1857), p. 345. and that question is in a fair way of being 
solved by the experiment in progress, of sending home 
6000 bales of ginned Cotton and 600 bales of churkaed 
Cotton to ascertain the relative prices which they would 
fetch in Manchester. When the relative selling prices 
have been ascertained, it will be easy to discuss the 
Par- i 9 question of relative cost prices. Thus Mr. 

Finnie had stated that the Ryot might lose 
four rupees per candy on ginned Cotton more than on 
churkaed Cotton ; but then if ginned Cotton would 
only fetch one farthing per pound more than the other, 
,the merchant would be able to pay that four rupees 
per candy, and yet secure a still larger profit for him- 
self. On the other hand, should the gin be found to 
injure the staple of Native Cotton, it would be soon 



1846-47.] MR. FINNIE'S FOTJE YEARS IN TEtTNEVELLY. 109 



discarded. Similar opinions were expressed Mr Petrie's 
by Mr. Petrie, the En gineer employed in pec^'i&t? 
Coimbatore to keep the gins in repair. If Pari! Return 
the ginned "East India Cotton" fetched a (i857),p.845. 
higher price in the English market, then the gin would 
most assuredly force its way into India ; just as ma- 
chinery for shortening labour, or for cheapening it, or 
for doing it better, had forced its way into other coun- 
tries, even when it had proved a temporary hardship to 
the masses. 

Mr. Finnie's proposition for erecting a Gin-house of 171 
two storeys : the lower one for the Driving Machinery, 
and the upper one for the Gins. — But to proceed with 
the narrative. It had now been finally arranged that 
the cattle- driving machinery should be tried with the 
large saw gins, and that manual labour should be tried 
with the smaller gins. Accordingly it was absolutely 
necessary that a gin-house should be constructed for 
their reception. Mr. Einnie had for some time been 
anxious to erect a gin-house. He now pro- Mr Pinnie . s 
posed that this house should be about 78 letter, 1st 
feet long by 24 feet broad ; that it should ^rLRefum 
contain six rooms, three on the ground and (i857),p.343. 
three on the upper floor ; that the room in £ttS?6th S 
the middle of the ground floor, and the one and29th 6 ' 
in the middle of the upper floor, should each March, 1S47. 
be 30 feet long by 20 broad in the inside ; J^gf 846 
and that the four end rooms on the ground 
floor and upper floor should be each 20 feet long by 20 
broad.* These two storeys of three rooms each were 
thus to be appropriated. The upper storey was intended 
for the gins and the ground floor for the driving ma- 
chinery and storing of the Cotton, according to the 
following arrangement. On the upper storey, the two 
end rooms were to be appropriated to the gins, which 
would discharge their Cotton into the centre room be- 

* This would seem to give a measurement for the whole house of 
70 feet long and 20 feet broad, instead of 78 feet long and 24 feet 
broad as above indicated. But the difference is accounted for by the 
thickness of the walls. 



110 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 



tween them, wliicli was to be called the " lint room." 
On the ground floor, the centre room was to be occupied 
by the wheels belonging to the driving machinery, whilst 
the two end rooms were to be used as store rooms. 
The wheels in the lower room would be connected with 
the gins in the upper rooms by a single band passing 
through the wall and floor, at an angle of about forty- 
five degrees. By this plan the gin would receive the 
compound motion it required. The saw cylinder and 
the brush wheel revolve in opposite directions ; the 
brush wheel with an accelerated motion of about five 
revolutions to one revolution of the saw cylinder, which 
is effected by proportioning the size of the cylinder and 
brush wheels. The great desideratum in India was to 
drive both with one band. This object Mr. Finnie 
proposed to effect by passing the under part of the 
band over the brush wheel, and thus driving it in an 
Minutes of opposite direction to that in which it 
Consuita- drives the cylinder. After some little dis- 
Sent 1 ?^ cussion, the erection of the gin-house at 
Pari. 'Return Sevacausey on the above plan was finally 
(1857), p. 364. ganct i one( i at a cogt f 2699 rupees. 

Hire of a temporary (Jin-house at Aroopoocottah. — 

The discussions about the driving machinery and gin- 
house had commenced about the latter end of 1846, 
but sanction for the erection of the gin-house was not 
obtained until September, 1847. Meantime the gather- 
ing season for 1847 had passed away. Mr. fmnie, 
however, had not suffered the time to be lost without 
some show of effort. He had three hand gins in his 
possession, two of twenty-five saw wheels, and one of 
twenty saw wheels ; and he professed to be still anxious 

Mr. Einnie's to assist J)r ' Wig ht in completing the 
letter, 23rd Court's order for six thousand bales. Ac- 
Parh Return cordingly, about the commencement of the 
(1857), p. 279. gathering season, he induced the head man 
at Aroopoocottah to rent him a house at seven rupees 
(14^.) a month, and a godown at three rupees (6s.) a 
month, for the purpose of ginning Cotton to complete 
the Court's order. 



1846-47.] ME. FI^NIE'S FOUR YEAES m TIMEYELLT. Ill 

Erection of three Gins and a Thresher: their effect 173 
upon the Natives. — Having made the necessary alter- 
ations in the hired house, Mr. Einnie erected two 25 
saw-gins, one 20 saw-gin, and one thresher ; and then 
invited the Cotton Brokers, Chitties, and Ryots to visit 
the scene of his operations. Accordingly the y came in 
crowds. He showed them the advantages of the gin 
over the churka ; and they all appeared delighted at 
seeing the gin separate the staple from the seed, and 
the Cotton come out so nice and clean. He also showed 
them how the thresher separated so much dirt from the 
Cotton. Still however they required time to consider 
the propriety of adopting so new and wonderful an im- 
plement. From what Mr. Einnie could learn, they . 
appeared to reason thus : — " Here is a gentleman who 
is come amongst us, and who proposes to trade in Cot- 
ton like ourselves. He brings machines which are new 
to us, and which evidently clean the Cotton beautifully • 
and he generously offers, either to let us have the ma- 
chines, or to work them himself in cleaning our Cotton. 
That the Cotton he produces is superior to our own 
cannot be doubted ; and it w T ill certainly rule the mar- 
ket to such an extent, that whilst he will dispose of his 
superior article to the European merchants, we shall 
be totally unable to dispose of our inferior and dirty 
commodity. Under such circumstances we shall have 
no alternative, but to adopt the gin, or lose the trade 
by which we make our bread. One point however still 
remains to be ascertained. The ginned Cotton is evi- 
dently superior, and ought to bear a much higher price ; 
but will this increased value be sufficient to pay us for 
our additional trouble ?" 

Testimony of th£ Brokers that dirty Cotton was 174 
more profitable than clean Cotton. — A deputation of 
Cotton Brokers next waited on Mr. Einnie, to learn 
how much they were likely to get for Cotton cleaned 
by the gin, and if there was a market for the ginned 
article. Hitherto, they said, they had found the dirty 
Cotton sell almost as readily as clean Cotton, with but 
a very trifling difference in the price ; and certainly the 
dirty Cotton was more profitable than the best and 



112 COTTON IN THE MADE AS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 



cleanest article they could get. The ginned Cotton, 
they admitted, was certainly superior to their own 
churkaed Cotton ; but then they always engaged to 
deliver their Cotton with the dirt in it, and if that dirt 
were removed by the thresher and gins, then it would 
have to be made up with additional Cotton ; and unless 
a much higher price could be obtained for the ginned 
article, they would be absolute losers by the improve- 
ment. Mr. Einnie considered that this 

r 3jT3j "I/O 

argument was conclusive. Dr. Wight had 
already stated that ginned Cotton only brought in 
England one farthing more per pound than the com- 
mon churkaed Cotton; and the loss in dirt alone 
amounted nearly to that sum. Mr. Einnie admitted 
that the use of the gin was merely a question of profit 
and loss. If the Natives could realize a profit by it, 
they would adopt it at once. Its success therefore rested 
solely upon the willingness of the merchant and manu- 
facturer to pay a higher price for the improved article. 
Hitherto the men in England, who had been loudest in 
their cry for clean Cotton, had been only anxious to 
secure all the advantage for themselves, and to take the 
clean Cotton from the poor Eyot at the same price as 
they had hitherto given for the dirty article. 

ME. FINNIE'S NOTES ON THE PECULIARITIES OF 
THE COTTON TRADE IN TINNEYELLY. 

175 Systematic adulteration of Indian Cotton : transac- 
tions between the Ryots, the Brokers, the Chitties, 
and the European Agent. — In order to explain the 
causes of the systematic adulteration of Cotton, Mr. 
Einnie entered at considerable length upon the manner 
in which the Indian Cotton trade was conducted. 
The results may be thus exhibited. The Eyot is the 
planter who cultivates the Cotton. The Broker is the 
Cotton cleaner, who takes the Cotton from the Eyot 
and delivers it to the Chitty. Again, the Chitty is 
both merchant and banker : — a merchant so far as he 
contracts wdth the European Agents on the coast for , 
the delivery of so much Cotton at a certain price ; and 



1846-47.] ME. FINNIE ON INDIAN COTTON TRADE. 113 



a banker so far as he makes advances to the Broker, 
who again makes advances to the Ryot, for the pur- 
pose of securing the Cotton crop when it is ready for 
delivery. 

The Ryot : improvident and helplessly in debt. — 176 

The Ryot produces the Cotton of the country. He is 
always as deep in the Broker's books as his credit will 
permit ; and consequently cannot stir without an ad- 
vance from the Broker on the security of the coming 
crop. Accordingly the Broker first obtains an advance 
from the Chitty, who is the monied man in all these 
transactions, and then advances to the Ryot. The 
Broker, however, must look sharply after the Ryot, and 
see that he really does plant his land with sufficient 
Cotton to meet his engagements ; otherwise the Ryot, 
with his usual reckless improvidence, would spend all 
the money in a big feast, or wedding, or nautch dance, 
or some other sort of "tumasha." 

The Broker: adulteration of the Cotton by the 177 
" Devil's dust " system.— The Cotton crop is delivered 
to the Broker whilst it is still in seed. The Broker 
is particular in classifying the seed Cotton, and pays 
the Ryot for it according to its cleanliness. Next he 
has much of the trash and rotten locks picked out ; not 
to make the Cotton better, but because the rubbish 
chokes the churka, and prevents it from working. The 
good Cotton staple is then separated from the seed. 
After this is done the adulteration commences ; for the 
Chitty contracts so closely with the Broker, that the 
latter is compelled to resort to what is called the " De- 
' vil's dust " system, in order to secure a living profit. 
This system may be thus described. The rotten Cotton 
seed, which had been thrown on one side lest it should 
choke the churka, is beaten with a stone to loosen the 
fibre from the seed, and then passed through the churka. 
1 Then the good Cotton and the bad Cotton are both 
1 taken into a little room six feet by six, which is entered 
1 by a low door about a foot and a half high and two feet 
; wide, and ventilated at a little hole through the outer 
'■ wall. The object in view is to thoroughly mix the good 
' and bad fibre together. Accordingly, two men go into 

i 



1M COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 

this little dungeon with a bundle of long smooth rods 
in each hand. Each man ties a cloth over his mouth 
and nose, to prevent his inhaling the flying fibres of 
Cotton ; and one man places his back against the little 
door so as to prevent any waste. Then they both set 
to work and whip the Cotton with their rods, in order 
to mix the bad and good so thoroughly together that a 
very tolerable article is turned out. If, after all this 
"bedevilling," the Broker can get a living price for his 
article, he delivers it to the Chitty just as it is, with 
the addition of only a few seeds. Usually, however, 
he is shaved so close as to be driven to resort to other 
means to realize a profit. Accordingly he adds a hand- 
ful or two of seed to every bundle, or lets it get in by 
accident ; and in this state the Cotton is finally de- 
livered to the Chitty.* 
178 The Chitty: tricks played with the European 
Agents. — Nothing now remained but for the Chitty to 
pass off the Cotton upon the European Agent at the 
coast. It is usually the custom for the Chitty to 
make a contract with his European Agent, before he 
himself makes his contract with the Broker. The con- 
tract is made for such a quantity of Cotton of such a 
quality ; and of course the very lowest sum is fixed. 
The Chitty agrees to the contract ; knowing that the 
price fixed is insufficient to secure the quality con- 
tracted for ; but knowing also that when the time for 
delivery arrives, the Agent must take just what he, the 
Chitty, chooses to deliver. In other words, the Chitty 
knows that the European Agents have their engage- 
ments to meet ; that they have made all their arrange- \ 
ments for shipment ; and that perhaps they have a 

* A curious instance of adulteration is recorded by Dr. Wight, j 
On one occasion he had several bales of damaged American Cotton, 

which he did not think worth the cost of sending home ; and ac- 1 

cordingly he offered it for sale in Coimbatore. To his surprise I 

the Cotton was immediately purchased at the high figure of fifty j 
rupees per candy. Subsequently he learnt that this American Cot- 
ton was purchased for the purpose of mixing it with some inferior 

very short-stapled Native Cotton ; its long staple enabling the dealer ' 

to pass off the whole at full prices as Cotton of the first sort. Pari j 
Return (1857), p. 295. . | I 



1846-47..] MR. PINKIE'S FOUR TEARS IN TTNNEVELLT. 115^ 

ship waiting, and presses lying idle. Under such cir- 
cumstances he delivers his Cotton to the Agent, who 
has merely to receive it. The Agent examines the Cot- 
ton by plucking out a handful and letting the bundle 
pass. Perhaps from caprice or ill humour, he rejects a 
bundle just as good as those he has taken. Then the 
Chitty gets angry, and orders his people to stop de- 
livering, as the gentleman will not take the Cotton. 
The Agent then takes the rejected bundle to induce 
the Chitty to proceed with the delivery. All, however, 
depends upon the state of the market. If it is brisk, 
and the Chitty finds that other Agents are in want of 
Cotton to make remittances with, he stops all rejection 
of inferior bundles, by threatening to throw up the 
contract ; and then the Agent, or rather the young 
man employed by the Agent to receive the Cotton, is 
compelled to soften his tone, and to entreat the great 
Chitty to let him have the Cotton, as his employers 
will find fault with him if he does not get on with the 
shipment. If, on the contrary, the market is dull, the 
Chitty is not quite so independent. Some Cotton is 
rejected in bulk, and finally put on one side. But still 
the Chitty is prepared even for this emergency. With- 
in a day or two the Cotton is loaded on the bandies, 
and marched round the town ; and then comes in fresh 
from the country, and is all taken as a very good arti- 
cle. The consequence of all these proceedings is, that 
the English manufacturer will only give a low price for 
Indian Cotton, because he never knows what he is buy- 
ing, nor what quality of Cotton will be found in the 
bales, nor whether the staple will be dirty or clean. 

Conclusion of the season of 1846-47 : difficulties in 
the way of conducting the ginning operations at 
Aroopoocottah. — Notwithstanding Mr. Finnie had se- 
cured a temporary gin-house in good work- Mr. Finnie's 
ing order at Aroopoocottah, he had still to ktter^i&h 
contend, according to his own account, with Pari' Return 
two great difficulties. 1st, He could not a^p.ses. 
purchase good Cotton from the Ryots at market price, 
2ndly, The expenses of ginning were so heavy, as to 

12 



116 COTTOK IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [2ND SEASON. 



render its use utterly impracticable as a mercantile 
transaction. 

180 1st, High prices demanded by the Ryots for their 
seed Cotton. — The arrangement made by Mr. Einnie to 
purchase seed Cotton from the Byots proved a failure ; 
and he was unable to procure a sufficient quantity to 
keep his few gins in working order. The seed Cotton 
delivered to him was always so inferior to the sample 
that he was compelled to reject it ; and though he was 
ever willing to take it at a reduced price in proportion 
to the quality, yet in that case the people preferred 
selling it to the Brokers. The object of the Ryots 
appeared to be to compel him to purchase the Cotton 
at their own price ; but against this proceeding Mr. 
Finnie made a determined stand. Government could 
afford to lose, but if once the precedent of high prices 
were established, it could never be broken through. 
He considered that the object of the experiment was 
to ascertain if the business could be carried on as a 
mercantile transaction ; and if high prices were created, 
no merchant would ever succeed in carrying on the 
business. 

181 2nd, Heavy expenses of ginning. — Mr. Finnie sub- 

mitted at the same time a tabular statement, 
ktte?2tod S exhibiting the cost of ginning operations. 
Sept., 1847. This estimate was confined to the actual ex- 

Parl. Return n ji j i j • . * 

(1857), p. 280. penses oi the day, excluding the rent ot 
Letter, and ^ e nouse and the cost of machinery and 

Statement to 1 , . J , 

Messrs. Ar- superintendence. Moreover, he reported 
Co!26t^Aug., tna ^ tne business was conducted, and the 
1847. ibid. 5 expenses disbursed, under his own eye ; 
pp. 365, 366. an( j conse q Uen tly witli greater celerity and 
stricter economy than could be expected when left to 
the Native servants. From his statement, which is 
exhibited on the opposite page, it would seem that the 
net cost of every pound of gin-cleaned Cotton was 
nearly 3^d. Accordingly, Mr. Finnie inferred that it 
was utterly impossible to use the gin in cleaning Cot- 
ton as a mercantile transaction. He also reported the 
same results to Messrs. Arbuthnot and Co., of Madras ; 
and the latter concurred in his conclusions, but trusted 



1846-47.] MR. FIN^IE'S TOUR YEARS IN TINNEYELLY. 117 



that a machine might yet be constructed, jMfes^^A^ 
which would clean the Cotton in a manner Co.'s n ietter, 
equally efficient, and at a less cost. The J^ s ^j 
Statement of Mr. Einnie bears the following Return 
title :— " Tabular Statement, showing the t 185 ?)*^ 65 - 
quantity of seed Cotton cleaned in a day by one 
Thresher and three Gins, two of twenty-five saws, and 
one of twenty saws ; the per centage and quantity of 
clean Cotton from a given quantity of seed Cotton, and 
the amount and per centage of waste ; the cost of seed 
Cotton, cost of separating the seed from the fibre, and 
total cost per candy of clean Cotton in Rupees (reduced 
to English money), and cost per lb. in English money." 



ME. EINNIE'S TABULAE STATEMENT. 

Time required to clean 
No. of Saws. 100 lbs. of Seed Cotton. 

H. M. 

f No. 1 25 15 

Gins. I No. 2 25 2 7 

( No. 3 20 . . . . about 1 





lbs. 




1700 


Total of Clean Cotton in lbs. obtained from the Seed 


370=f 


Average of lbs. of Clean Cotton obtained from 100 lbs. of Seed 


21-81 


Cotton Seed in lbs. after separated from the staple 


1280| 


Average of Seed obtained from 100 lbs. of Seed Cotton after 






75-33 




29| 


Do. per 100 lbs. of Seed Cotton 


1-73 




18 


Do. on every 100 lbs. of Seed Cotton 


1-06 


Loss and Trash and small particles of Cotton in Flue in lbs. 


1 


Do. on every 100 lbs. of Seed Cotton 


006 




2 


Do. on every 100 lbs. of Seed Cotton 


0-11 



118 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [3RD SEASON. 



R. A. P. £ s. d. 

Cost for Seed Cotton of six Podhees at Es. 

7-10 (15*. 3c?.) per Podhee . . . . 45 12 = 4 11 6 

Cost of labour for ginning, or separating the 

Seed from the Cotton 7 9 6 =0 15 2J 

Cost of cloth, sowing, packing, twine, and oil 
for gins 2 7 6 = 4 llj 

Total cost of 1700 lbs. of Seed Cotton .. 55 13 = 5 11 7| 

Deduct amount realized for Seed, Es. 1-6 

(25. 9d.) 7 15 = 15 10A 

Net cost of 370 J lbs. of Clean Cotton, exclusive 

of Establishment and Superintendence ..47 140 = 4 15 9 

Eate per candy of 500 lbs. of Cotton after de- 
ducting amount realized for Seed .. 64 90 = 6 9 1| 

Net cost per lb. of Clean Cotton 3J 

Vooo^.y 



182 Necessity for improving the construction of the 
Gin. — Upon the relative working of each of the gins, 
Mr. Einnie's Mr. Finnie reported as follows. It will be 
Sept r 'i84 r 7 d remembered that he had two 25 saw gins, 
Pari.' Return and one of 20 saws. Each of the two 25 
(1857), p. 279. gaw required thirteen men a day to 
work it; namely, two sets of six men to turn the 
wheel, and relieve each other alternately ; and one 
man to attend to the gin, such as feeding it with seed 
Cotton, and removing the staple freed after separation. 
One gin however would clean 100 lbs. of seed Cotton 
in one hour ; whilst the other would not clean the same 
quantity under two hours. Then again the 20 saw 
gin did almost as much work as the best 25 saw gin, 
though it only required nine men to work it ; namely, 
one man for the gin, and eight men at the wheel ; the 
latter relieving each other alternately in sets of four. 
This last gin had been made by Mr. Petrie, and was 
pronounced by Mr. Finnie to be the best he had seen 
in India. These facts served to show that much de- 
pended on the construction of the machine, and that 
further improvements might yet bring the gin into 
constant and profitable use in India. 



1847-48.] MR. TINNIE's TOUR YEARS IN TINNEYELLT. 119 



Third season, 1847-48 : stage of the Cotton expert- 183 
ment in Tinnevelly. — The general operations of Mr. 
Minnie during his first two seasons at Tinnevelly do 
not appear to have been attended with any particular 
result ; beyond ascertaining the facts that American 
Cotton would yield a good crop in localities enjoying 
the benefit of both monsoons, and that the American 
gin as then constructed could not be profitably em- 
ployed in commercial transactions. Accordingly, he 
now desired to extend the cultivation of American 
Cotton, and to take steps for insuring the co-operation 
of the manufacturers and merchants at home. 

Planting operations : successful culture of American 184 
Cotton in the Courtallum valley. — It has already been 
seen that the American Cotton grown during the second 
season had only proved really successful in the Courtal- 
lum valley, which enjoyed the benefit of both monsoons. 
Accordingly, early in the third season, Mr. Mr Pinnie ' S 
Finnie obtained the Government sanction letters, 24th 
to establish a model plantation of about 2ndJun^ 
a hundred acres in the same quarter. The B^' in f ar1, 
cultivation was to be carried out upon (i857),pp. 
lands held by Government, and under his 273 ' 274, 
own superintendence, either by hired labour or by con- 
tract at so much per acre ; but the cleaning, planting, 
and preparation of the soil, were to be accomplished by 
Native implements, as an example to the landholders, 
and as an inducement for them to adopt the culture * 
on their own account. At the same time Mr. Finnie 
proposed to distribute seed to all who were willing to 
cultivate the American Cotton, and to take the pro- 
duce off their hands at a fixed rate per candy on Gov- 
ernment account ; and he hoped that in time he should 
be able to retire from the culture, and leave it entirely 
in the hands of the people, merely taking the produce 
at its value. He was perfectly satisfied that the Ame- 
rican Cotton would grow well, wherever the land en- 
joyed the benefit of both monsoons ; and he had not 
the slightest doubt but that the people in the neigh- 
bourhood of those favoured spots would Minutes of 

find the cultivation a profitable source of Consuita- 



120 COTTON m THE MADE AS PRESIDENCY. [3ED SEASON. 



June 3 i847 employment. The Government sanction 
Pari/Return was given on the 30th of June, and Mr. 
(1857), p. 275. p mn i e immediately proceeded to Court- 
allum to commence operations ; but on his arrival the 
Mr. Finnie's heavy burst of the south-west monsoon was 

March 1 1MS 0Ver ' ^ te ha(i to Wait Until tlie 10tn ° f 

Pari. Return September before he could commence clear- 
(1857), p. 364. ^ an( j planting. Notwithstanding, how- 
ever, that the Cotton was planted too late, we are told 
that it did very well and produced a good crop. 

185 Unsuccessful culture at Sevacausey, Virdooputty, 
and Aroopoocottah. — During this same season, Mr. 
[Finnie ordered a few acres to be planted with American 
Cotton at the three stations of Sevacausey, Virdoo- 
putty, and Aroopoocottah ; merely, however, out of 
deference to the advice of Dr. Wight, and merely to 
Mr. Finnie's prevent his opponents from saying that the 
te^er, 23rd experiment had not been fairly tried. At 
Pari. Return the commencement of the season he ex- 
(1857), p. 279. pected a complete failure, but the results 
Mr. Einnie's do not appear to have been quite so un- 
Aprif,'i848. satisfactory as he had anticipated. At the 
Pari. Return close of the season he reported, that whilst 
(1857), p. 278. ^ e plants had failed in the open plains, 
those in protected spots had grown very well and 
yielded some Cotton. 

186 Agency operations : Mr. Finnie requests permission 
to proceed to England to consult with the Cotton 
Manufacturers. — About Christmas time, that is, after 
Mr. Einnie's the Cotton had been planted but before it 
tetter^23rd nac [ begun to ripen, Mr. Finnie began to 
Pari! Return grow exceedingly disgusted with his forced 
(1857), p. 275. inactivity in Tinnevelly. "Where is the 
necessity," he wrote, " of keeping me here to look at 
the working of three miserable gins ? The gin- house, 
which is ordered at Sevacausey, will not be completed 
for six or eight months longer ; and by that time the 
coming Cotton season will be over. Thus with the 
means at my disposal I can do but very little this year ; 
and at the same time I never shall be able to effect 
much for the improvement of the Indian Cotton, with- 



1847-48.] ME. PINKIE'S TOTJE TEARS IN TLNTSTEYELLY. 121 



out I Lave the co-operation of the manufacturers and 
merchants at home. I am therefore constrained to 
propose to the most noble the Governor in Council, 
the Marquis of Tweeddale, to depute me to England, 
to consult with the manufacturers, and to ascertain 
how far they are disposed to patronize the R evenue 
measures which they urge on the. Honour- letter, 17th 
able Court of Directors." The Marquis of gg; ^ e 4 t 8 urn 
Tweeddale approved of this proposition, (i857),^27s. 
and recommended it to the favourable from Court 
notice of the Court of Directors. The ll h L ^ torSi 
Court however did not see that any ad- 1848. ibid, 
vantage was likely to accrue from such a p " 276, 
proceeding, and therefore declined to comply with it. 

Operations with the Churka, Thresher, and Gin: 187 
meeting of the Cotton Brokers of Tinnevelly. — Whilst 
Mr. Finnie's proposition to visit England was under 
the consideration of the Court of Directors, Mr. Fmnie's 
he was still engaged, according to his own fe ttei i ^J-L 

. . *5 to ' . & March, 1848: 

account, m endeavouring to secure the co- Pari. Return 
operation of the people in promoting the ( 185 7)»p-285. 
improvement of their Cotton. On the 28th March, 
1848, he had a meeting with the principal Cotton 
Brokers of Aroopoocottah, and explained his views 
respecting the importance of attending to the cleanli- 
ness of Indian Cotton ; as well as his plan for a 
European Agency, by means of which he could give a 
better price for the pure article than for the mixed 
dirty one. In reply, the Brokers admitted that the 
gin was an excellent machine, but said that it was too 
expensive for them. As regarded the thresher, they 
said that they were quite prepared to use it for taking 
the dirt and trash out of the Cotton ; first, because it 
was both good and cheap ; and secondly, because it 
loosened the Cotton on the seed, and thus enabled the 
churkas to do more work. 

Cost of cleaning with the Thresher and Churka as 188 
compared with that of the Gin. — Mr. Finnie then gave 
to the Brokers for a few days the use of his gin-house 
and thresher. They brought their own Cotton, as well 
as their own churkas and people. The Cotton was 



122 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. ["3RD SEASON. 

first put in the thresher, and then churkaed, for the 
purpose of ascertaining the cost of this mode of clean- 
Mr. Fitmie's ing- Mr. Finnie reported that the result 
May r i847 h was n ^§ n ^ favourable. The relative cost 
Pari! Return of cleaning a candy of 500 lbs. of Cotton, 
(1857), p. 288. k e estimated as follows : — 

rs. a. p. £ s. d. 

"With the Churka 4 14 8 = 9 10 

"With the Gin 10 3 10 = 1 5f 

In a foot note, however, Mr. Finnie so far modified 
his opinion as to bring the expense of both methods 
more to a level. On the one hand, he found it 
necessary to beat the churka cleaned Cotton ; and this 
process cost Eupees 1-5-9, or 2s. S^d., per candy of 
clean Cotton. But then, on the other hand, he 
thought that the gins might be worked at one- third the 
amount stated, if they were properly constructed, and 
if the coolies would work at the ordinary hire for daily 
labour, instead of insisting upon three annas, or four 
pence half-penny, per diem. 

189 Cost at which clean unadulterated Cotton might be 
supplied. — Mr. Finnie estimated the actual cost of the 
pure unadulterated Cotton, first quality, at 52 Rupees 
or £5 4s. per candy. To this was to be added the 
beating, which cost 2s. 8^d. per candy ; and the car- 
riage to the shipping port, which cost 2s. 10^d. per 
candy. Total, £5 9s. 6%d. To this was also to be 
added the Broker's profit, w T hich was never fixed, but 
depended on the fluctuations of the market. Alto- 
gether, he calculated on the whole, that he should be 
able to insure a supply of the first quality of Cotton, 
at from £5 10s. to £6 per candy of 500 lbs. delivered 
at the shipping port. 

190 Recommends the introduction of small hand Thresh- 
ers and cheap Presses. — Mr. Finnie still reiterated 
that the dirty condition of Indian Cotton was not the 
effect of carelessness, nor of the inefficiency of the 
Native appliances for cleaning ; but that it was the 
result of a deliberate design and systematic procedure. 
The Ryots brought their best article as clean, and as 
free from dirt and trash, as the majority of American 



1847-48.] ME. FINNIE's FOUR YEARS IN TINNEVELLY. 123 



planters. But this best quality was never seen by the 
European ; but was all consumed by the Native mer- 
chants in their domestic traffic. The Cotton taken 
by the independent Native states, was far superior 
to any that the European merchants could get at the 
price at which they expected to obtain it ; whilst the 
refuse of that which was used for domestic manu- 
factures, was all reserved to be mixed with the article 
which the European merchant took for export. All 
that was necessary was, to assist the people with 
the simple means which they themselves desired. 
Accordingly Mr. Einnie proposed to give them small 
hand threshers, both to separate the dirt and trash 
from the seed Cotton, and to loosen the staple on 
the seed so as to aid the churka. Also, to remedy 
their defective mode of packing, by erecting small 
plain cheap presses in the villages ; so that the peo- 
ple, instead of packing their Cotton in large loose 
bundles with their feet, might press their Cotton 
properly in neat small bales, say of 100 lbs. or 120 
lbs., of which two would form a bullock-load. 

Small hand Threshers and Presses sanctioned. — The 191 
proposal that Government should set up a Mr Tho . 
few small hand threshers, and some cheap mas's letter, 
simple presses, in different localities, was i848. Jl pari. 
strongly supported by Mr. E. B. Thomas, ^£ } rn 284 
the Collector of Tinnevelly. Accordingly Minutes of ' 
it ultimately received the sanction of the j^lnn 
Madras Government ; the number of the July, 1848. 
different machines, as well as their local Ibld -P- 298 - 
positions, being left to the discretion of Mr. Thomas in 
communication with Mr. Einnie. 

Mr. Thomas believed that Cotton was not adulter- 192 
ated by design, and that good Cotton was often sent 
home. — Mr. Thomas did not concur in Mr. Einnie's 
opinion, that the inferior quality of the Cot- Mr Tho _ 
ton, and its dirty and adulterated state, were mas's letter, 
the result of deliberate design and system. ig4 8 Ju pa r i. 
Neither did he believe that all the best Return 
Cotton was used in the country, nor that ( 18o ?)>p- 284 - 
the worst only was exported, nor that the European 



124 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [3RD SEASON. 

Agents on the coast bought only the trash and refuse. 
On the contrary, he believed that all the Agents 
were careful and rigorous in excluding bad and dirty 
Cotton from their contracts, and that they made 
every effort to secure a good article ; and for several 
years past he had been at various times into all their 
warehouses, and had seen very much good clean 
Cotton, which he had heard had fetched good prices at 
home. 

193 No market or Agency required in Tinnevelly.— At 

the same time Mr. Thomas stated that a good market 
for Native Cotton already existed in Tinnevelly, and 
that there was no occasion for creating a new market, 
as Mr. Finnie seemed to argue. Cotton in Tinnevelly 
found a ready sale, and the price varied but little from 
year to year. Again, Mr. Thomas could not under- 
stand what was meant by the " co-operation and or- 
ganized system," which Mr. Finnie requested from the 
home manufacturers and the Madras Government. If 
an Agent for the purchase of all Cotton was intended, 
such an arrangement should be left to the merchants 
and manufacturers themselves ; but such an Agency, 
with the advantage of competition superadded, already 
existed at Tuticorin, where six Agents were already 
established for the purchase of the best Cotton that 
could be obtained. 

194 Cultivation of New Orleans Cotton, and improved 
cleaning, the main points. — Mr. Thomas believed that 
the results to be really attained were : — first, the cul- 
tivation of the New Orleans and better kinds of Cot- 
ton; and secondly, the exercise of greater care and 
cleanliness in picking and packing. These results 
could only be obtained by patient perseverance and 
practical experiment amongst the people. So far as 
cleaning the Cotton was concerned, Sir. Finnie was 
profitably employed ; but Mr. Thomas considered that 
larger sowings of better sorts of Cotton, and greater 
attention to the cultivation of Cotton by Mr. Finnie 
and others, would prove of much practical benefit. 

195 Mr. Finnie's design for a cheap Cotton Press. — Mr. 
Finnie subsequently wrote a very long letter in further 



1847-48.] ME. EIKNIE's FOUR TEARS IN TINNEVELLY. 125 



explanation of his views, but it adds little or nothing to 
what has been said before. He reiterated that the 
Agents at Tuticorin did not take the proper measures 
with the Natives themselves for securing the best Cot- 
ton ; but added that this was not so much Mr. Einnie's 
the fault of the Chitties, who were screwed o" er |f 4 5 g h 
down to the lowest possible price, as it was Pari'. Return 
the fault of the English merchants and ( 185 7),p-368. 
manufacturers at home, who had not taken the neces- 
sary steps for creating a sure market for the superior 
article. He also forwarded a sketch of a lever press 
which he had invented for pressing the Cotton into a 
small compass for packing ; the elasticity of Mr. Einnie's 
the fine clean Cotton being so great, that j^^f^f 
the packing cloth was frequently torn, and Pari! Return 
a considerable loss sustained by the expo- ( 185 7)>p-366. 
sure of the Cotton, and the collection of trash. This 
press may be thus described. It consisted of two up- 
rights securely set in masonry, with a cross beam at 
the top. Between the uprights was a box, with fixed 
sides, but moveable ends at the top and bottom. Sus- 
pended from the cross beam was a moveable beam, 
which could be forced down upon the box by means of 
levers, acted on either by men or heavy weights. The 
Cotton was placed in the box and pressed into a bale 
by the cross beam, which was forced down by the 
levers. Mr. Finnie requested that this press might be 
constructed immediately at the Government Arsenal ; 
but it never appears to have been completed, as Mr. 
Finnie subsequently represented that he was engaged 
in preparing another simple press for Native use. 

Mr. Finnie's sample of Churkaed Tinnevelly Cotton 196 
equal, to American. — Towards the close of the third 
season, Mr. Finnie made an announcement to the Ma- 
dras Government, which serves to place the character 
of his whole proceedings in the strongest possible light. 
It has already been seen that Mr. Finnie had opposed 
himself equally to the cultivation of the American Cot- 
ton and the use of the American gin ; and that he pro- 
fessed to devote his chief attention to the improvement 
of the Native Cotton, and of the Native methods of 



126 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [3RD SEASON. 



cleaning. Accordingly, whilst the subject of his pro- 
posed visit to England was still under the consideration 
of the Court of Directors, he suddenly announced that 
he had brought the whole question to a successful 
Mr. Finnie's issue. In May, 1848, he forwarded to the 
May r i848 h Madras Government a sample of Tinne- 
Pari' Return velly Cotton, which had been separated 
(1857), p. 2S3. f rom fljg gee( i by the churka alone, but of 

which the particles of trash had been subsequently 
picked out of the wool by hand. This sample he de- 
clared to be a very superior article ; it had been taken 
from a roomful, and was a fair sample of what the 
churka could turn out, under the new regime which he 
had induced the Cotton cleaners to adopt. If a 
quantity could only be shipped to England via Ame- 
rica, he was satisfied it would be regarded as a good 
fair quality of American Cotton. The Natives them- 
selves were scarcely aware that they could make the 
Cotton so clean, until he had thus induced them to 
try ; and he believed that a few thousand bales of such 
an article, arriving in England from India, would be 
the most important event which the commercial world 
had known for many years. Already he had nearly 
the whole of a village at work in producing such very 
superior Cotton ; and provided that he were sufficiently 
encouraged, and that purchasers could be found willing 
to give a reasonable price, he pledged himself to have 
the whole crop of the district of Tinnevelly ultimately 
cleaned in this satisfactory manner. A safer invest- 
ment, he said, could not be made ; and he accordingly 
suggested that the Government should allow him to 
encourage the production of such an article to the 
fullest extent.* 

* The following extracts from the letter condensed in the text will 
furnish some idea of Mr. Finnie's style and language. 44 1 have the 
honour, the pleasure, and the satisfaction to forward for the inspec- 
tion of the Right Honourable the Governor, a specimen of Cotton 
which was cleaned by the churka alone, of course, the particles of 
trash being separated by the hand ; and I now have nearly a whole 
village at work producing such Cotton as this ; and if I am en- 
couraged to go on, I will pledge myself ultimately to have the whole 



1847-48.] MR. EINNIE's FOTJE TEAES IN TINKEVELLY. 127 



Madras Government refer the sample to Dr. Wight, 197 
the Chamber of Commerce, and the Court of Directors. 

—Before sanctioning large purchases of such Cotton as 
Mr. Finnie recommended, the Madras G-o- Minutes of 
vernment referred the sample for the Consuita- 
opinion of Dr. Wight and the Madras g^u*. 
Chamber of Commerce ; and at the same Pari. Return 
time required from Mr. Finnie a clear ( 1857 )>p- 283 - 
business-like statement, showing how much Cotton of 
the same quality as the sample forwarded, Mr. Finnie 
could command within the ensuing six or twelve 
months ; as well as the price paid to the grower per 
candy, the cost of packing per candy, the cost of transit 
to the port, and the freight charges. In a word, the 
Government desired to learn the data on which Mr. 
Finnie based his statement, that a safer remittance 
could not be made. 

Dr. Wight's report: Mr. Finnie's sample is "good 198 
Tinnevelly," which no one could mistake for Ame- 
rican. — Dr. Wight reported on Mr. Finnie's sample as 



crop of Tinnevelly thus cleaned, provided always that purchasers can 
be found willing to give a reasonable price for the article. 

" Hitherto I have not proclaimed success, because I did not con- 
sider that it had been attained ; but I believe now that we have 
commenced a very pacific "revolution" in Cotton among the demo- 
cratic republicans of Hindoostan ! ! A free and more independent race 
does not exist. They are not fond of a total change, especially when 
unprofitable ; but a little persuasive eloquence to convince them that 
we are in earnest, especially when accompanied by the consonant 
clink of the coin they like, will speedily bring them to compliance 
with reasonable demands on their efforts. 

" A complete reformation has taken place in some of the Native 
Cotton cleaning houses here ; hitherto they have been filled with 
j rubbish and a " compound of villanous smells," and now they are 
clean, nicely matted. This was effected by reason, applied through 
the shafts of ridicule, of which the people are peculiarly sensitive. 

" Amidst mountains of opposition, I have persevered in my efforts 
to awaken an interest in the people on the subject of the importance 
to them, individually and nationally, of preparing their great source 
of wealth in a manner that would render it valuable abroad. The 
people themselves scarcely knew that they could make the Cotton so 
i clean until they were made to try. They have never had a demand 
for a clean article, and it is not strange they did not prepare it. 
Why should they ? " 



128 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [3UD SEASON. 



Dr. Wight's follows. It is such Cotton as would be 
l j™'m& called in Liverpool " good Tinnevelly." In 
Pari. 'Return average states of the markets, it would 

(1857), p. ^93. realize fr()m tQ per lb . in m()re 

favourable states it might fetch 5d. or 5^i. It is about 
the same quality as 300 bales of gin-cleaned Cotton, 
which were sent home from Coimbatore in the begin- 
ning of 1847, when prices ranged unusually high ; and 
which on that occasion fetched 5fc?. Six bales of f 
American Cotton purchased from Ryots, were sold at 
the same time for h\d. "Whilst, however, Mr. Finnie's 
sample is the same quality as the 300 bales of gin- 
cleaned, it must be borne in mind that gin- cleaned 
Cotton has always sold higher than churka-cleaned ; 
first, because it looks better and is easier carded ; and 
secondly, because it is more free from sand and other 
impurities, which add to the weight but detract from tho 
value. Mr. Finnie's sample however is not a faithful one. 
The particles of trash have been separated by the hand, 
and consequently the sample is more valuable than the 
mass from which it was taken, and which could not be 
picked in the same manner excepting at a ruinous 
charge. As regards Mr. Finnie's statement, that if 
the Cotton could be sent to England via America, it 
would be mistaken for American Cotton ; such a thing 
is impossible, as the English Brokers would have de- 
tected it at once from the shortness of the staple. In- 
deed, the Native merchants at Coimbatore had valued 
the Tinnevelly at 39 and 40 rupees, or 78s. and 80s., 
per candy ; whereas they would not value the American 
Cotton at all, as it had not obtained sufficient currency 
in the Indian markets for them to fix a valuation. 
Again, the fact that six bales of Indian-grown American 
Cotton sold at Liverpool at Id. per lb. higher than a 
batch of first-rate Indian Cotton, sufficiently established 
the superiority of the American. 
199 Large shipment of Churkaed Cotton contrary to the 
orders of the Directors. — With regard to Mr. Finnie's 
request that he might be permitted to make large ship- 
ments of the churka-cleaned Tinnevelly Cotton, in 
order to encourage the production of the article, Dr. 



1847-48.] ME. FINNTE's FOTJE YEAES IN TINNEVELLY. 129 

Wight explained that the despatch from the Court of 
Directors ordering the 6000 bales, limited the invest- 
ment to gin- cleaned Cotton. Subsequently, however, 
during the discussion as to whether or no the saw gin 
cut and injured the staple, he, Dr. Wight, had obtained 
permission to purchase about 500 bales of churkaed 
Cotton to be sent along with the ginned, in order to 
enable the spinner to ascertain the relative advantages 
of the two modes of separating and cleaning. The 
Directors had approved of this suggestion, but had mo- 
dified it by ordering that sufficient seed Cotton for a 
thousand bales should be purchased ; and that 500 
bales should then be cleaned by the gin and 500 by the 
churka, and the whole be sent home at the same time. 
If Mr. Finnie could therefore purchase the seed Cotton 
for this experiment, and would clean one half with the 
gin and the other half with the churka, his aid would 
be of considerable service. 

Dr. Wight's system of purchase compared with 200 
that of Mr. Finnie. — Dr. "Wight took this opportunity 
of explaining his own system of purchase, as compared 
with the organized system darkly alluded to by Mr. 
Finnie. He had ascertained that carefully picked Cot- 
ton is never dirtied or mixed with trash in passing 
through the churka or gin. Accordingly he had sys- 
tematically rejected every load of ill-picked Cotton, 
and thus was saved from the necessity, common amongst 
Native merchants, of mixing the good with inferior 
qualities. By so doing he was compelled to give from 
half a rupee to a rupee per candy more than the Native 
merchants ; but then he secured the pick of the mar- 
ket ; and in all probability his Cotton would fetch 
higher prices in England than the generality of Native 
Cotton. 

Madras Chamber of Commerce confirm Dr. Wight's 201 
valuation of Mr. Finnie's Cotton. — The opinion ex- 
pressed by Dr. Wight on Mr. Finnie's sample of Tinne- 
velly Cotton seems to have been fully endorsed by the 
Madras Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber found 
the sample to be very clean and of good Mr uch- 
colour, but of short staple. Taking the teriony's 

K 



130 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 



june'1848 1 "then extreme range of London prices for 
Pari.'Retum Tinnevelly Cotton at 3d. to 4d. per lb., and 
(1857), p. 296. assuming that a parcel of uniform good 
quality would realize 3^d. per lb., the Chamber con- 
sidered that a parcel equal to Mr. Finnie's sample, 
would realize that price, viz. 3^ per lb., and possibly 
might fetch ^d. per lb. more. 

02 Manchester Commercial Association pass a similar 

judgment upon the Cotton.-— Mr. Finnie's 
§om the famous sample of Tinnevelly Cotton equal 

re°ctors° f i8th ^° ^ mer ^ can ' was °^ course sent home to 
July, 1849. the Court of Directors, and by them trans- 
Ss^iS! mitted to Mr - Aspniall Turner, the Presi- 
dent of the Commercial Association of Man- 
chester. The result fully confirmed what had been 
already stated by Dr. "Wight and the Madras Chamber. 
In a letter from Mr. Turner to Dr. Royle the following 
judgment was passed : — 

" I may say, generally, that the Cotton sent by Mr. 
Finnie, grown from Native seed, is very much the same 
as we have been in the habit of receiving for years past 
from Madras. You are aware that it has not entered 
largely into consumption in this country ; and I can 
only repeat emphatically, what I have often asserted 
before, that it is a perfect delusion in Mr. Finnie or 
any one else supposing that such Cotton will ever pass 
off to the spinners of Lancashire as a substitute for 
American Cotton. It has nothing to recommend it, 
except being of a bright clear colour ; the staple is 
miserably short. The Brokers' report (Corrie and Co.) 
states that it has been destroyed in cleaning ; but I 
doubt if it ever had much staple. The samples of 
A merican seed Cotton are very different, and are valued 
by the Brokers at 18 per cent, more than the others." 
Such was the brilliant achievement that closed the 
third season of Mr. Finnie's career. 

03 Fourth season, 1848-49 : proposed extension of plant- 
Mr. Finnie's operations. — The fourth season of Mr. 
letter, 3ist Finnie's operations at Tinnevelly opened 
ParL Return with a bold representation, and two equally 
(1857), p. 292. "bold propositions. He represented that 



1848-49.] MR. EINNIE's E0T7R TEARS IN TIOTEYELLY. 131 

his labours in effecting an improvement in Native Cot- 
ton were of such vast importance, that he could no 
longer attend to the cultivation of American Cotton 
in the Courtallum valley, which he said was nothing 
more than cultivating an exotic in an oasis. Accord- 
ingly he begged that the plantation of one para ig4 
hundred acres at Courtallum, which he had ara * 
cultivated the preceding year, might be planted for the 
ensuing season by the Native assistant. At the same 
time, however, he expressed his willingness to do what 
he could in extending the cultivation of American Cot- 
ton. Notwithstanding the strong objections which he 
had expressed to the establishment of large Farms ; 
notwithstanding his convictions that New Orleans Cot- 
ton would only grow in localities enjoying the influence 
of both monsoons ; he was prepared to set aside his 
own views, and to establish one Cotton plantation at 
Aroopoocottah, and another at Sevacausey, on as large 
a scale as Government thought proper to sanction. 
For himself, however, he strongly preferred his own 
system of operating directly through the people. He 
would employ a number of Ryots, on monthly salaries 
of from ten to sixteen shillings per mensem, to grow 
American Cotton on their own lands ; the produce to 
be their property, and when nicely cleaned, to be taken 
off their hands at four shillings per candy above the 
current market price of the Native article. The merits 
of the two systems may be easily compared. A Cotton 
plantation, under any circumstances, would cost fifteen 
or twenty pounds a month. If conducted by Europeans, 
the produce, however successful, would be less than the 
cost ; whilst the enormous expense would frighten the 
people from the culture. On the other hand, by dis- 
tributing the same amount among the Natives they 
would be induced to carry out the experiment them- 
selves, and would certainly attain success, if success 
were really possible. These propositions, however, ap- 
pear to have met with no response from the Madras 
Government. At the time they were written, the Mar- 
quis of Tweeddale had departed for Europe, and Sir 

k2 



132 COTTON m THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 



Henry Pottinger had succeeded him as Governor of 
the Presidency. • 

204 Mr. Finnie's matured judgment against the culture 
of American Cotton or use of the American gin. — 

Mr. Finnie's Shortly afterwards, Mr. Finnie had occasion 
Jan er i849 h ^° Tecor & n ^ s matured opinion in favour of 
Pari! Return the indigenous Cotton and Native churka, 
(1857), p. 191. as pp 0gec [ to the American Cotton and 

American gin. He could not, he said, after devoting 
his best attention to the subject, entertain much hope 
of the success of the American Cotton. It failed in 
Southern India on account of the cold nights which 
prevail after a scanty monsoon.* If there were oc- 
casional showers of rain after the 1st of February 
when the weather became warm, and if the ravages of 
insects could be also avoided, then the American Cot- 
ton would succeed admirably ; but in the absence of 
rain at that season, he was afraid that it would never 
become the staple of India. Again, as regarded the 
American gin, he could give no hope of its ultimate 
adoption by the Natives ; and as for the European 
merchants, they never would be able to carry on opera- 
tions in seed Cotton, but must leave such work in the 
hands of the Native Brokers. 

205 Pronounces in favour of the Indigenous Cotton and 
Native Churka. — But whilst holding the foregoing 
opinions, Mr. Finnie looked hopefully forward to such 
improvements in the Indigenous Cotton and the Native 
churka, as would accomplish for India what never 
would be insured by either the exotic plant or the 
foreign machinery ; namely, the extension and improve- 
ment of the Cotton of her soil, and the consequent pros- 
perity of her " poor Byots." He did not indeed believe 
that any degree of culture would materially improve 
the staple in an Indian climate ; but he considered that 
the Indigenous Cotton was capable of extension, that 
better culture would insure more ample returns, and 
that due attention to qualities would secure a large 
quantity of a most useful and valuable article. Already 
he believed that more attention was paid to the quality 
than formerly ; for the Agents at Tuticorin had informed 



1848-49.] MR. FIOTIE's FOUR TEARS IN TINNEVELLY. 133 



him that more good Cotton had been received there 
from the crop of 1847-48, than had ever been known 
before ; a result which he attributed in some measure 
to his own humble efforts to convince the people of the 
importance of cleaning their Cotton. The perseverance 
of the Natives in this course would of course depend 
upon the encouragement they received, and the induce- 
ments offered them to keep the different qualities se- 
parate, and the best clean Cotton unadulterated with 
inferior sorts. If the Natives could make more money 
by selling the quantities separate, than they could by 
selling them mixed, — then of course they would keep 
them separate, and much unadulterated Cotton would 
be exported from India. 

Native Cotton should be first threshed, next chur- 206 
kaed, and finally cleaned by hand. — As regarded the 
separation of the staple from the seed, Mr. Finnie was 
satisfied that the time-honoured churka was a much 
more efficient instrument than was generally supposed ; 
and he did not believe that a better substitute would 
easily be found. Two other processes were however 
necessary, one before and the other after the churkaing. 
Eefore the Cotton passed through the churka, the dirt, 
trash, and rotten locks, should be separated from the 
seed Cotton ; and this, as Mr. Finnie had previously 
indicated, could be best carried out by the thresher. 
Then again, after the Cotton had passed through the 
churka, a subsequent process was necessary to separate 
the remaining small particles. This process consisted 
in beating the Cotton on cots, so as to allow the im- 
purities to fall below it ; and this gave a lively and fine 
appearance to the Cotton, and rendered it really clean 
and beautiful, as clean indeed as the Cotton generally 
produced in America. This work was performed by 
hand, and was certainly tedious ; but in a country 
where there were so many people whose time was of 
little value, the work could be performed much cheaper 
by hand than by machinery. 

Erection of Mr. Finnie's Gin-house and Driving 207 
Machinery at Sevacausey. — Up to the early part of 
1849, Mr. Finnie's ginning operations appear to have 



134 COTTON IK THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 



been on a very limited scale. Dr. "Wight continually 
urged the importance of completing the order of the 
Court of Directors for 6000 bales of East India Cotton, 
but still little or nothing was done by Mr. Finnic He 
had, as we have seen, three gins occasionally at work 
Mr. Fmnie's in a small house which he had hired at 
No*v%848 Aroopoocottah; but during the second 
ParLRetu'rn season he only ginned nine candies of Cot- 
(1857), p. 198. ton ^ an( j during t ne third season only thirty- 
six candies ; thus making forty-five candies in all, — 
each candy being equivalent to about a bale. But 
early in 1849, the new gin-house, which had been com- 
menced at Sevacausey for the reception of the driving 
machinery purchased at Jaffna, was fast approaching 
Mr. Elton's completion. The delay had arisen from 
April' 18*49 ^ e difficulty of procuring timber, which 
Pari. 'Return had become scarce and dear in Tinnevelly, 
(1857), p. 300. an( j w hi c h moreover had to be carried a 

considerable distance from the hills. In February, 
1849, Mr. Finnie began to take the necessary steps for 
procuring two large 60 saw gins from Dr. Wight, 
and the driving machinery from Tuticorin, where it 
had been lodged ever since it had been purchased. The 
idea was to keep the three hand gins working in the 
hired house at Aroopoocottah ; and to set up five new 
gins in the new Gin-house at Sevacausey ; viz., two 60 
saw gins to be moved by cattle, and three 20 or 25 saw 
gins to be worked by hand, in order to settle the ques- 
tion of hand labour versus cattle labour. Accordingly 
Mr. Finnie applied for three more small gins to be 
worked by manual labour at one end of the new gin- 
house at Sevacausey ; and for two 60 saw gins to be 
worked by cattle attached to the driving machinery at 
the other end. The result was that the two 60 saw 
Mr. Einnie's gins were obtained and set up ; that the 
Eeb er i8^9 d driving machinery was also set up ; and 
Pari! Return that twenty bullocks and drivers were ob- 
(1857), p. 372. tained from the Commissariat department. 
The three hand gins, however, never appear to have 
been forwarded to Sevacausey. 



1848-49.] ME. FINNIE's FOUR TEARS US' THWEVELLY. 135 



Eelative cost of the Churka, the Hand Gin, and the 208 
Cattle Gin. — But though Mr. Finnie had not been able 
to set up both the hand gins and the driv- Mr. Fmnie's 
ing machinery in the same house, he was s e ept r 'i849 h 
still enabled, a few months afterwards, to Parl.'Return 
furnish the following table of the relative ( 1857 >'P- 373 - 
cost of the churka, the hand gin, and the cattle ma- 
chinery. 

Cost of separating the staple from a Candy of clean 
Seed Cotton. 

k. a. p. £ s. d. 

By the Churka . . ..4 14 8 = 9 10 

Bvthe Hand Gin (contract) 6 14 4 = 013 9£ 

By the same (hired labour) 10 3 10 = 1 5| 

By Cattle machinery . . 8 13 6=0 17 8^ 



Mr. Finnic pointed out that, according to this table, 
the hand gin, even when worked by contract, was more 
expensive than the churka ; without taking into con- 
sideration the original outlay, or the cost of wear and 
tear. Then again the cattle machinery was much more 
expensive than the hand gin ; and if the calculation 
were made for the whole year, the cattle machinery 
would be found infinitely more expensive, as the bul- 
locks and drivers would have to be kept up constantly, 
even when no ginning was going on. If, however, the 
people would employ the bullocks in ploughing the 
land, as well as in ginning the Cotton, they might reduce 
the expense ; but even then, the capital required for 
setting up such an establishment would exhaust the 
whole fortune of several Cotton dealers. 

Mr. Finnie refused permission to extend his opera- 209 
tions to Coimbatore. — Whilst the cattle Mr. Fiimie's 
machinery was thus being put in working April'S. 
order at Sevacausey, Mr. Finnie requested Pari. Return 
permission to extend his operations to Co- ( 1857 )>p- 30() - 
imbatore. He stated that the people of Tinnevelly and 
Madura were now sufficiently aware of the importance 
of attending to the cleanliness of their Cotton ; and 



136 COTTON IN THE MADBAS PRESIDENCY. [4TH SEASON. 



that the Agents were at last stipulating for a well- 
cleaned article, which was the great object to be ob- 
tained as regarded the Indigenous Cotton. The people 
therefore in the neighbourhood of Sevacausey and 
Aroopoocottah no longer required such constant per- 
sonal attention from himself; and he consequently de- 
sired to extend his system over the length and breadth 
of the land. As a first step in this important work, 
he proposed to extend his supervision to Coimbatore ; 
where he promised not to come in conflict with Dr. 
Wight, but to devote himself to persuading the people 
to extend their cultivation of Cotton, and to clean it 
by the means already at their command, in a manner 
more suitable to the wants of the purchasers. Mr. 
Minutes of Minnie, however, was informed that the 
Son S i6th Governor in Council was not disposed to 
May, 1849. accede to his application ; and that pending 
(iss^^soi 1 cer ^ aui measures which were in contempla- 
tion, and which would be communicated in 
due course, it was thought best that he should confine 
his operations to the districts of Madura and Tinne- 
velly. In other words, the Madras Government had 
already determined on bringing the Cotton experiment 
to a close, and dispensing altogether with the services 
of both Mr. Finnie and Dr. Wight. Indeed in the fol- 
lowing October, Mr. Finnie appears to have been on 
his way to England ; but before noticing the circum- 
stances which immediately preceded this event, it will 
be necessary to glance at a few particulars which are 
best narrated in a separate chapter. 



CHAPTEE V. 



DISPUTES BETWEEN DE. WIGHT AND MR. FLTSTNIE, DISCUS- 
SIONS OE THE MADRAS GOVERNMENT AND COURT OP 
DIRECTORS, AND FINAL CLOSE OE THE EXPERIMENTAL 
CULTURE. 1849 TO 1853. 

(210.) Marquis of Tweeddale succeeded by Sir Henry Pottinger : breach, 
between Dr. Wight and Mr. Finnic — (211.) Mr. Finnie convinced of the 
folly of cultivating American Cotton in India : Dr. Wight recommends his 
removal. — (212.) Points of the dispute: summary of the Correspondence. 

DISCUSSION BETWEEN DE. WIGHT AND ME, FINNIE. 

(213.) Mr. Finnie to Dr. Wight, 7th November, 1848 : "I have had 
great difficulties in ginning, but have induced many Natives to plant 
American Cotton." — (214.) Dr. Wight to Mr. Finnie, 15th November : 
I Your purchase of churkaed Cotton is illegal, your culture of American 
Cotton unsatisfactory, and your ginning too expensive." — (215.) Mr. Fin- 
nie to Dr. Wight, 18th December: " My plans have all been approved by 
the authorities." — (216.) Dr. Wight's explanations, 30th January. 

(217.) General opinions of the Madras Government and Court of Di- 
rectors upon the experimental culture. 

VIEWS OF THE MAEQTJIS OF TWEEDDALE. 

(218.) Propositions of the Marquis of Tweeddale in 1847: First, To 
relinquish the experimental Farm in Coimbatore. — (219.) Second, To 
establish small Model Fields under a practical Agency, amongst the Na- 
tive Cultivators. — (220.) Third, To set up small Gin Establishments, and to 
keep up good roads to the Forts. — (221.) Limits to Government Agency : 
the Manufacturer should purchase direct from the Eyot. 

VIEWS OF THE COUET OF DIEECTOES. » 

(222.) Despatch of the Court of Directors, 1848 — (223.) First, The 
Cotton Farm at Coimbatore may be relinquished : it has proved that the 
right Cotton can be grown, and the price alone remains to be ascertained. 
—(224.) u Agency confined to practical Planters " may be tried on a small 
scale. 

VIEWS OF SIE HENEY POTTINGEE. 

(225.) Minute of Sir Henry Pottinger, May, 1849.— (226.) The Ex- 
perimental Farms have been fully tried, and their continuance would be 
injurious— (227.) American Cotton in any part of the Madras Presidency 



138 COTTON IN THE MA DBAS PEESIDENCT. [CHAP. V, 



liable to failure. — (228.) Causes of the failure of American Cotton : climate 
and soil. — (229.) Dr. Wight ascribes the failure in Coimbatore to the want 
of humidity, but humidity does not mean rain. — (230.) The Ryots should 
now be left to themselves, with such aid as the Revenue Establishments 
may give. — (231.) Mr. Finnie to remain in Tinnevelly till October to in- 
struct the East Indian lads in the use of the gins, &c. — (232.) Dr. Wight 
should break up his Establishments in Coimbatore immediately. — (233.) 
Gin-houses at Coimbatore and Aroopoocottah to be placed under the Col- 
lectors for the use of the Ryots. — (234.) Unfounded complaint of the 
Manchester Association : the Manchester Merchants ought to help them- 
selves. 

(235.) State of Dr. Wight's Farm at Coimbatore, May, 1849 : 500 acres 
held by contract and 200 acres worked by contract. — (236.) Application 
ot Dr. Wight to be permitted to sow and gather one crop more : refused, 
June. — (237.) Departure of Mr. Finnie from the Madras Presidency. — (238.) 
Mr. Finnie's last letter, July, 1849: "The gins will always remain idle 
after Government ceases to use them." — (239.) Decision of the Madras 
Government as regards Dr. Wight, reversed by the Court of Directors, 
September. — (240.) Dr. Wight's services to be retained : Mr. Finnie's 
dispensed with. — (241.) State of the Farms at Coimbatore. — (242.) Dr. 
Wight cultivates American Cotton by irrigation.— (243.) Postponement of 
Dr. Wight's Cotton Report. — (244.) Mather's improved Churka. — (245.) 
The Manchester Cottage saw gin. — (246.) Twenty-four Cottage saw gins 
received by the Madras Government, 1849. — (247.) Report of the Madras 
Chamber of Commerce : the working of the Cottage saw gin unsatisfactory. 
— (248.) Expense of the Cottage saw gin an inseparable bar to its employ- 
ment in India. — (249.) Dr. Wight reports favourably of the Cottage saw 
gin. — (250.) Prices of the Cottage saw gin to Natives and Europeans. 
— (251.) Favourable report of the Collector ofTanjore: subsequently re- 
versed. — (252.) Favourable reports on the Dharwar saw gin. — (253. Dr. 
Wight compares the working of the Dharwar gin, the Manchester Cottage 
gin, and the large hand gin. — (254.) Relative cost of labour on the Churka, 
the Manchester Cottage gin, and the large hand gin. — (255.) Three years' 
progress in the Cotton Experiment, 1850-52. — (256.) Colonel Lawford's 
cultivation by irrigation in Tanjore.— (257.) Mr. Wroughton's Collector- 
ate Farm at Coimbatore. — (258.) Mr. Thomas's opinion upon the best 
method of inducing the Ryots to cultivate American Cotton. — (259.) Cot- 
ton cultivation by Mr. David Lees in Tinnevelly : discussion concerning 
the right of Chayroot renters. — (260.) Discussion respecting the purchase 
of American Cotton on Government account from the Ryots of Tinnevelly. 
— (261.) Authority for the purchase refused by the Madras Government. 
—(262.) Completion of Dr. Wight's Report, May, 1852. 

DR. WIGHT'S FINAL REPORT, 12TH MAY, 1852. 

(263.) Stage of the Cotton experiment in 1849. — (264.) Improved pros- 
pects during 1850-51 and 1851 52. — (265,) Previous reluctance of the 
Ryots to cultivate American Cotton connected with the existence of the 
Cotton Farms. — (266.) Ryots encouraged by their own success to extend 
the cultivation.— (267.) Large results in 1850-51 and 1851-52.— (268.) 



DISCUSSION OF DE. WIGHT AND js/LR. FINNIE. 



139 



Ryots adopt Dr. Wight's practice. — (269.) Refutation of the theory that 
the climate and soil of India are unfitted for American Cotton. — (270,) 
First, The theory is founded on the assumption that Indian Cotton has 
succeeded when American has failed. — (271.) Second, The theory is based 
upon a comparison of crops grown in India, and of crops grown on the 
Mississippi instead of those grown in Georgia. — (272.) Differences be- 
tween India and the Mississippi do not prove that the soil of India is in- 
imical to American Cotton. — (273.) Soil of Southern India : latter com- 
pared with that of Georgia. — (274.) Climate of Southern India not so 
congenial as that of Georgia : evil obviated by sowing in August or Sep- 
tember. — (275.) Leading principles of Cotton culture in the Carnatic : 
sowing before the North-east monsoon and selection of soil. — (276.) Ob- 
jection of Native Spinners to the soft and silky fibre of the New Orleans 
Cotton. — (277.) Difficulty of separating the seed from the staple, and pre- 
judice against the seed as food for cattle. — (278.) Nothing wanted to 
secure a rapid extension of the American Cotton culture, but a steady mar- 
ket and competition. — (279.) Cotton cultivation on the Coromandel Coast : 
New Orleans, Sea Island, Egyptian, and Brazilian. — (280.) Partial suc- 
cess of Mr. David Lees on the sandy Coast lands of Tinnevelly : error as 
regards deep sowing. — (281.) Sandy soils along the Coromandel Coast 
adapted to the cultivation of American Cotton. 

(282.) Sir Henry Pottinger's Government condemns Dr. "Wight's re- 
port. — (283.) Recommends that, as the Farms had proved injurious, and 
as the Agency was no longer necessary, all Government intervention should 
i be withdrawn. — (284.) Dr. Wight's protest against the conclusions of the 
i Madras Government. — (285.) First, The Government Farms had not 
proved injurious, but the groundless suspicions of the Ryots. — (286.) Se- 
• cond, The Government Agency had not proved unnecessary, as it removed 
-the suspicions of the Ryots. — (287.) Retirement of Dr. Wight and final 
despatch of the Court of Directors, 1853. 

Marquis of Tweeddale succeeded by Sir Henry Pot- 210 
linger : breach between Dr. Wight and Mr. Finnic 

J — In 1849 the Cotton experiment in India underwent 
; a new phase. The Marquis of Tweeddale had retired 
from the Government of Madras in 1848 ; and Sir 

Henry Pottinger was now Governor of the Presidency. 

Meantime the differences of opinion between Dr. Wight 
; L and Mr. Pinnie had broken out into an open rupture. 
This obsolete quarrel between the Superintendent of 
. the Cotton Farms, and an American Planter originally 
\ engaged to act under his instructions, would of course 

be unworthy of notice, did it not serve to illustrate the 

stage at which the Cotton experiment had arrived. It 
: will have been seen that the views and the mode of 
^. procedure of Dr. Wight and Mr. Pinnie were diametri- 
cally opposed. Dr. Wight had expressed his belief 

I 



\ 



140 COTTON IN THE MADE AS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



that American Cotton might be profitably cultivated 
throughout the Peninsula, excepting on the high table 
Para 180 lands, where the climate might prove too 

cc'id ; and accordingly he had been endea- 
vouring to ascertain by actual experiments, the princi- 
ples of the cultivation of American Cotton under the 
conditions of an Indian soil and climate, and the nature 
and extent of the advantages possessed by the American 
gin over the Indian churka. Mr. Finnie, on the con- 
trary, had expressed his belief that the American Cotton 
could not be profitably grown in any part of India, 
excepting perhaps in such isolated spots as enjoyed the 
benefit of both monsoons ; and accordingly he had only 
planted a little American Cotton at Courtallum, and 
Paras. 127, engaged a few Ryots to plant a little more 
133 - at Sevacausey and Aroopoocottah, but from 

almost the very first had regarded the latter experiment 
as a failure. Again, Mr. Finnie considered that the 
American gin, however well adapted to American Cot- 
ton, was wholly unsuited to the Indigenous Cotton; 
first, because its working was too expensive in a country 
Para 204 where labour was so cheap ; and secondly, 

because it cut the fibre of the JNative 
Cotton. Accordingly, instead of cultivating " an exotic 
Com are American Cotton, in an oasis like 

Mi^Pinnie's Courtallum," and " looking after the work- 
Pec er i847 d °^ ^ nree miserable gins " at Aroopoo- 

with his cottah, he had devoted himself to the ex- 
w&y*'m&. tension of the cultivation of Native-grown 
Pari' Return Cotton, and to the improvement of its 
276^292^' quality by methods already available to the 

Ryots. The point however in which Dr. 
"Wight and Mr. Finnie came into direct collision, was 
the order of the Court of Directors for the 6000 bales 
of ginned East India Cotton. Mr. Finnie bought very 
little Cotton for ginning, on tbe ground that the price 
demanded by the Eyots was too high ; and he excused 
himself from ginning to any great extent, on the ground 
that his three hand gins at Aroopoocottah would not 
work properly, and that he had not got his gin-house 
and driving machinery erected at Sevacausey. These 



1847-49.] DISCUSSION OF DE. WIGHT AND ME. FIWKIE. 141 

matters, together with some others, are worthy of being 
briefly narrated. 

Mr. Finnie convinced of the folly of cultivating 211 
American Cotton in India: Dr. Wight recommends 
his removal.— In 1847, Dr. Wight was informed that 
two of the American Planters, who had Dr Wight's 
returned to England from India, had re- letter, 26th 
ported that American Cotton could only Pari'. Return 
be grown in peculiar climates, such as (1857), p. 164 
I those of Dharwar and Coimbatore. Accordingly, he 
represented this fact to the Madras Grovernment, de- 
claring it to be a mere hypothetical deduction, based 
i on an imperfect acquaintance with the climates of 
I India ; adding however that he should have considered 
the judgment of no importance, had he not discovered 
that Dr. E-oyle had adopted a similar view ; and had 
: not Mr. Finnie fallen into the same error, and actually 
s stated in a note, that " he believed he might almost 
[■undertake to eat all the American Cotton that would 
j be produced at Aroopoocottah." Accordingly, about 
three weeks afterwards, Mr. Finnie com- Mr. Fhmie's 
plained to the Madras Grovernment, that letter, i6th 
Dr. Wight had accused the American pari.' Return 
Planters of forming a "conspiracy," for (iS57),p.278. 
the purpose of discouraging the British public from 
persevering in the cultivation of American Cotton. 
-The Madras Grovernment however stated in reply that 
no such communication had been received from Dr. 
. "Wight. Meantime Mr. Finnie seems to have flavoured 
s his official correspondence with frequent sneers at Dr. 
j Wight's proceedings ; and on one occasion, in an official 
application to Dr. Wight for some Ameri- D r> Wight's 
i can seed, he stated that he was " more and letter, 2nd 
- more convinced of the folly of trying to PaS? Return 
i make this country (India) produce Ameri- (I857),p.i8i. 
can Cotton." In reporting this statement to Grovern- 
ment, Dr. Wight pointed out that it involved a grave 
error. If the expression referred to India generally, it 
: was altogether incorrect ; and if it were even limited 
to Tinnevelly and Madura, still it was contradicted by 
; the fact that good field-grown American Cotton had 



142 COTTON TN THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



been raised in those districts, both recently, and also 
in former years by the late Mr. Hughes. Under such 
Para 33 circumstances, he was convinced that Mr. 

Finnie had never given the experiment a 
fair trial, and that he never intended doing so ; and he 
therefore recommended that Mr. Finnie should be re- 
moved from the locality where he had been stationed. 
" In thirty-two months," said Dr. "Wight, " he has cost 
the experiment about 20,000 rupees, and has not 
grown one bale of American Cotton, or himself culti- 
vated, or taken continuous charge of, a single field. 
What he has done in the ginning department towards 
aiding in making up the Court's order, I know not ; 
but I believe very little." In another letter, referring 

Para 196 ^° -^ mn ^ e ' s sam ple of Tinnevelly Cot- 
ton already noticed, Dr. Wight severely 
commented on Mr. Finnie' s inconsistency. It seems 
Dr. Wight's ^ na ^ 011 * ne ^th of May, 1848, Mr. Finnie 
5farT'i848 ^ a< ^ consu ^ed Dr. Wight officially, as to 
Pari/RetuVn what measures he should adopt to overcome 
(1857), p. 293. the obstinacy of Native dealers in with- 
holding their Cotton at reasonable prices ; whilst on 
the 24th of the same month, only twenty days after- 
wards, he stated that he had nearly a whole village 
engaged in producing Cotton of a very superior quality, 
and pledged himself to have ultimately the whole crop 
of Tinnevelly cleaned according to his particular pat- 
tern. 

212 Points of the dispute : summary of the correspond- 
ence. — The rupture between Dr. Wight and Mr. 
Finnie began about the time of the change of Go- 
vernors. Sir Henry Pottinger the new Governor, 
Sir Henry however, declined to take any notice of 
Pottiuger's Mr. Finnie's sentiments or of Dr. Wight's 
Myfis^ 5 * 11 criticisms ; and of course within a few 
Pari.' Return months the correspondence between the 
(1857), p. 296. ^ wo g rew warmer an( j m ore lengthy than 

ever. The points in the controversy will now be 
exhibited in the briefest possible form ; just sufficient 
to illustrate the stage at which the Cotton experiment 
had arrived in the season of 1848-49. 



1848-49.] DISCUSSION 03T DB. WIGHT AND MB. 3TINNIE. 143 



DISCUSSION BETWEEN DR. WIGHT AND MR. FINNIE. 

Mr. Finnie to Dr. Wight, 7th November, 1848 : "I 213 
have had great difficulties in ginning, but have in- 
duced many Natives to plant American Cotton." — 

Having been ordered by the Madras Go- Mr. Pinnie's 
vernment to assist you in fulfilling the j^^jjg 
orders of the Court of Directors for 6000 Pari' Return 
I bales of ginned East Indian Cotton, I have ( 1859 )*p- 198 - 
to report that I ginned nine candies last season, and 
thirty- six candies this season, making forty-five in all. 
I have however had great difficulties in the way of pro- 
curing seed Cotton. Brokers here go themselves to the 
j Byots to buy the seed Cotton ; so that instead of the 
' Byots bringing their Cotton to me, as they bring it to 
you at Coimbatore, I have been compelled to purchase 
f at a high price from the Brokers. The reason of this 
is obvious. In Coimbatore you are so far from the 
coast, that there is no local demand ; and the people 
: are only too glad to carry their seed Cotton to your 
gin-house, where they find a purchaser at once. Tinne- 
j velly however is filled with Chitties who purchase for 
the European agents ; whilst there are also numbers of 
Brokers, who gain their living by churkaing the Cot- 
ton, and who will not see me deprive thern of their 
livelihood without a struggle. I have however got 
fifty-eight candies of Cotton, cleaned by the churka 
men ; and I submit that the quality is equal to that of 
ginned Cotton, whilst the staple is far better, and the 
cost much less. Then, again, as regards the working of 
the gins I have had considerable trouble. The coolies, 
who turn the wheels, have hitherto refused to work 
j; excepting by the day ; and I have only just been able 
to induce them to work by contract at three rupees, or 
six shillings, per 1000 lbs. of seed Cotton, including 
threshed work. As regards the gins themselves, I 
should also like to have the benefit of your suggestions ; 
[ for, though properly fixed, they will not turn out so 
I , much work as yours ; and the most we can do with all 
1 j three is to gin 1760 lbs. of seed Cotton per diem. As 
1 regards the introduction of American Cotton, about 



144 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [_ CHAP - T 



which you are so anxious, I have the pleasure to men- 
tion for your gratification, that I have induced many 
Natives to plant a little. Some have planted it by 
itself throughout entire fields ; others have sown it 
with grain ; others, again, have scattered the seed 
among the Native Cotton, with the hope that the 
stamina of the American may mingle their pollen with 
that of the Native plant, and thus gradually produce a 
hardier plant than the American, and one more pro- 
ductive and of finer staple than the Indian. 
214 Dr. Wight to Mr. Finnic, 15th November: "Your 
purchase of Churkaed Cotton is illegal, your culture 
of American Cotton unsatisfactory, and your ginning 
too expensive." — In reply to your letter, I have to 
Dr. Wight's notice your purchase of churkaed Cotton, 
letter, loth your inducing Natives to plant American 

JN ov,, 1848. J • * ■ ' m a i 

Pari. Return Cotton, your sowing two species together 
(i8o7),p.i99. f- 0D tain a cross, and your ginning oper- 
ations. As regards the purchase of churkaed Cotton I 
can offer no opinion ; as the purchase of a marketable 
article in the bazaar is forbidden by the Company's 
Charter, and would require the special sanction of Go- 
vernment. As regards your having induced some Na- 
tives to grow American Cotton, I am not gratified. 
You were not sent to Tinnevelly for that purpose, but 
to show the people how to conduct the culture ; and I 
consider that so long as you stand aloof as a mere 
looker-on, you do not fulfil your obligations to the 
Madras Government to serve it as an American 
Planter. For myself I feel satisfied that the locality 
you occupy is much more favourable than Coimbatore 
for the production of New Orleans Cotton ; and I 
think that had the ground been differently occupied 
during the past three years, the result would have 
proved more satisfactory there than it has proved in 
Coimbatore. But the fact is, that you compromised 
yourself long ago, by declaring that you were convinced 
that it w r as a " folly " to try and make American Cot- 
ton grow in Madura or Tinnevelly ; and now you will 
not try, lest you should ruin the reputation you 
imagine yourself to possess. Whilst however you do 



1848-49.] DISCUSSION OF DE. WIGHT AND ME. FINNIE. 145 

nothing, lest you should waste a few rupees of public 
money, you feel no compunction in inducing the poor 
Natives to risk their little capital, and their labour, in 
an undertaking which you confidently pronounce to be 
hopeless. As regards your expectation, that by sow- 
ing the two species of Cotton together you may suc- 
ceed in obtaining a cross, hardier than the one and 
more productive than the other ; — I can only say that I 
can give you but little encouragement, as such a result 
would be contrary to the laws of nature. To obtain 
such a cross it would be necessary to open the flowers 
before natural blooming ; to cut out the stamens be- 
fore shedding their pollen ; and then to apply the 
pollen of the intended male parent to the virgin stigma. 
' If its own pollen has once been applied, the other will 
not take effect. But even supposing this to happen, 
and a cross obtained, we should be no great gainers. 
The Native Cotton might be improved, but it would 
! be at the expense of the American plant. Already the 
American Cotton is as hardy as the Indian Cotton, 
and would only be deteriorated by the cross. As 
; regards the ginning, we pay for manual labour one 
penny (8 pies) per maund of 25 lbs., or three shillings 
and four pence per 1000 lbs. One 25 saw gin cleans 
1000 lbs. of seed Cotton in about ten or twelve hours ; 
; and one 19 saw gin cleans 750 lbs. in about the same 
time. If the working of your gins falls below that 
• standard, either the coolies are deficient in training, or 
; there is something wrong in the gins. This last I 
1 apprehend to be the case ; as in examining the alter- 
ations you have made in those gins you have returned, 
I I find that you have spoiled both ; thus fully proving 
that you do not understand the mechanism of the Cot- 
1 ton gin. I would therefore suggest the propriety of 
' sending down an artificer, to ascertain whether the 
J fault in the working of your present gins lies with the 
; gins or with the coolies. 

1 Mr. Finnie to Dr. Wight, 18th December: " My 215 
[ plans have all been approved by the authorities." — I 

f shall not discuss the subject of the suit- Jj£j™£ s 
; ability of the American Cotton to India, Dec.,i848. 

L 



146 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 



Pari. Return nor of the American gin to Indian Cotton. 
(1857), p. 202. J shall simply explain what you have mis- 
understood, and correct your erroneous views. You 
now remark that the purchase of bazaar Cotton is pro- 
hibited by the charter ; but in 1846 you recommended 
the purchase of such Cotton as was ordinarily churkaed 
by the people. As regards my proceedings in the cul- 
tivation of American Cotton, I have strictly adhered 
Paras. 127, to the plans which I proposed in my letter 
131. of the 26th January, 1846, to which you 

made no objection. In deference however to your 
views, and contrary to my own judgment, I recom- 
Para 203 mended the establishment of a Cotton 
plantation in May last, but did not obtain 
the sanction of Government. How then can you say 
that I stand aloof as a mere looker-on, and that I do 
not fulfil my obligations to serve the Madras Govern- 
ment as a Cotton Planter ? I consider that the main 
object of my mission here is, to improve the Native 
Cotton, and at the same time to do what I can to in- 
troduce the exotic. In the first, which is my primary 
purpose, I have been most successful ; and I was told 
by the gentlemen of Tuticorin, that more good Cotton 
had been there during the last season than was ever 
known before. As regards the secondary subject of 
the introduction of American Cotton into India, what 
more can be wanted than to see the cultivation in the 
hands of the Byots ? I have agreed to pay them two 
rupees (4s.) per month for each acre, during the two 
or three months that embrace the cultivating season ; 
and also to give them two rupees (45.) above the 
market per podhee of 240 lbs. in the seed, or five 
rupees (10s.) above the market price per candy of 500 
lbs. of clean Cotton, If the business succeeds in the 
hands of the Byots, they will extend the culture ; if it 
fails after a fair trial, then the experiment will be for 
ever set at rest. As regards what I have done in the 
way of cultivating American Cotton, I may remark in 
the first place, that my hope of producing a cross by 
mixing the American and Native varieties, involves no 
very serious ground of dispute ; in all points where 



1848-49.] DISCUSSION OF DE. WIGHT AND MR. F1NNIE. 147 



botany is concerned, I yield to your superior know- 
ledge. Secondly, I may remark that I nave planted 
the American Cotton in every possible way, but it all 
looks wretched ; except some that is sown in Eed land 
among palmyra trees, and those that are most pro- 
tected by the hedge look the best. I merely state 
these as facts, and base nothing on them either for or 
against the success of the plant in this country. Both 
the Red and Black lands, especially if well manured, 
would produce Cotton, if at the same time they en- 
joyed the climate of Mississippi. You say that this 
locality (Tinnevelly and Madura) is more favourable 
for the culture of American Cotton than the vicinity of 
Coimbatore. But this is opposed to your own reports. 
Here the soil is Black, and you have always asserted 
that the Black land is unsuited for the American Cot- 
ton ; and it was on this very account that you removed 
your experimental farms to a locality where there is 
nothing but Eed land, and which moreover has the 
benefit of both monsoons, How then can you assert 
that the plant will grow here in Black land, which only 
enjoys the benefit of one scanty monsoon ? I think that 
an experiment of seven years, like yours at Coimbatore, 
is amply sufficient ; and I hope Grovernment will send 
you out in the open plains to try your skill in the 
Black and Eed soils with only one monsoon. If the 
culture of American Cotton is ever to confer the 
expected benefit on India and England, we must get 
out of the little oases at the foot of the hills, and spread 
' it over the length and breadth of the land. As regard 
\ the gins, the band did not run properly, and the Eyot 
in charge made them carry a leathern rope instead ; 
but I deny that either of the gins were in any way 
; injured. 

Br. Wight's explanations, 30th January. — You are 21G 

1 correct in saying that in 1846 I recom- Dr. wight's 
s mended the purchase of churka-cleaned j^ili? 1 
1 Cotton, in order that it might be tried ParLRetiim 
; together with ginned Cotton by English ( 1857 )>p- 205 - 
' spinners. This suggestion was approved both by the 
: Madras Government and the Court of Directors ; but 

L 2 



148 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 



at the same time the Court directed that seed Cotton 
should be purchased by us, and then cleaned by us, 
partly by the gin and partly by the churka ; observing, 
as I presume, that the purchase of the ready-prepared 
marketable article would change the character of the 
transaction from an experimental to a commercial one, 
and thereby involve our Honourable Masters in an 
illegal proceeding. This was the reason why I recom- 
mended you to apply for fresh instructions, before en- 
gaging in a transaction which might bring the Grov em- 
inent into collision with the mercantile interest, as 
being a departure from the provisions of an Act' of 
Parliament. As regards the establishment of Cotton 
farms in Tinnevelly and Madura, I learn that you 
readily obtained sanction for the establishment of a 
small model farm of fifty acres at Courtallum. Had 
you asked for a similar one at Aroopoocottah, in order 
to teach the Natives how to cultivate American Cotton, 
you would easily have obtained it. If however you 
applied for a farm of 500 or 1000 acres, I can easily 
understand why it was not granted. As regards the 
two monsoons, it was you who laid such great stress 
on the importance of this condition in the cultivation 
of American Cotton in India. I was formerly, to some 
extent, of the same way of thinking; but now I am 
Para 90 convinced that the opinion is most erro- 
neous. You propose that I should be sent 
into the plains, to try my skill in cultivating American 
Cotton on Black and Eed soils with only one monsoon. 
To this I am most agreeable. I have long wished to 
have the experiment tried ; and indeed supported your 
application for employment under this Presidency, for 
the express purpose of having it tried by a skilful and 
zealous Planter. At that time you promised me your 
energetic support. However, a volunteer in the person 
of the Acting Collector of Tanjore, is now kindJy 
giving me the aid which you then promised to me. 
He writes me, on the 6th December, " that American 
Cotton seed, sown early in September, is wonderfully 
fine ; plants up to 2 \ feet and 3 \ feet high, and loaded 
with bolls, and only waiting for the bright sunshine to 



1847.] VIEWS OE THE MARQUIS OE TWEEDDALE. 149 



burst. That sown in the beginning of October is just 
now opening into flower, and is only about one foot 
high, evidently kept back by the heavy monsoon." As 
regards the alterations you made in the gins, they were 
not small matters as you represent. The position of 
the brush pulleys was altered ; and the result was that 
one gin revolved the wrong way, whilst the other re- 
quired six men instead of four to work it. In fact, you 
injured their working properties, and then complained 
of their inefficiency. 



General opinions of the Madras Government and 217 
Court of Directors upon the Experimental Culture. — 

The foregoing correspondence was forwarded to the 
Madras Government by Dr. Wight ; but by this time 
the whole question of the advisability of continuing the 
Cotton experiment in any form, was being brought 
under the consideration of the authorities. The whole 
cost of the experiment, which in 1847 had g tatements 
reached two lakhs and a half, or £25,000, of the Ac- 
had now in 1849 reached to very nearly {^j^i*" 
four lakhs, or £40,000 ; though from this Pari. Return 
sum total must be deducted about half a ^ 1857 ^P- m 
lakh, or £5000, for money received as the sale proceeds 
of Cotton shipped to England, and the value of saw 
gins, and other machinery. At the same time, though 
much information had been obtained, it did not appear 
that many practical results had been obtained. The 
action of Government upon the matter can be best 
understood, first, by noticing the recorded opinions of 
the Marquis of Tweeddale, and the remarks of the 
Court of Directors thereon ; and, secondly, by bringing 
forward the views of Sir Henry Pottinger, which led to 
the temporary abandonment of the experimental cul- 
ture in this Presidency. 

VIEWS OF THE MARQUIS OF TWEEDDALE. 

Minute of the Marquis of Tweeddale in 1847: 1st, 218 
I To relinquish the Experimental Farm in Coimbatore, 

—It has already been seen that either the Marquis of 



150 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



Tweeddale had adopted the views of Mr. Finnie, or 
else that Mr. Finnie had adopted the views of the 
Marquis of Tweeddale. Accordingly his Lordship had 
on more than one occasion expressed himself favourably 
disposed towards the practical suggestions of the Ame- 
rican Planter, rather than towards the theoretical views 
of a scientific botanist like Dr. Wight. Shortly before 
his Lordship's retirement from the Government of 
Madras, he drew up several Minutes, in which he re- 
corded his opinions at length. In the first place he 
proposed the remission of one-fourth of the rent of all 
Paras. 121, lands taken up for the cultivation of Ame- 
123 - rican Cotton ; but this subject has already 

been narrated elsewhere. His more important pro- 
Marquis of position was that the Government should 
Tweeddaie's immediately relinquish all its Experimental 
Se 1 pt U , t i847 d Farms and official agency for raising Cot- 
Pari- Return ton. No fair conclusion, he said, could ever 
° ' p ' ' be drawn, until private capital and enterprise 
were embarked in the trial ; and that would never take 
place, so long as ^Government occupied itself with the 
experiment. On ( the other hand, if one-half of the 
amount that had heen expended, had been offered as a 
bonus to private enterprise, — either in the form of 
advances for the erection of gins and other machinery, 
or in that of grants of land rent free for a specified 
term, — he believed that the question would already 
have been brought to an issue. Again, no fair con- 
clusion could be drawn from a Government .Farm, 
superintended by men who were not practical agricul- 
turists, and who .consequently were not able to direct 
the labour of those under them ; but who used Govern- 
ment capital and Commissariat cattle, which the Native 
cultivator could not command ; and who moreover had 
no direct interest in the success of the experiment, nor 
in the limitation of the expenditure. His Lordship did 
not include Mr. Imnie in these remarks, as he believed 
it to be a great advantage to Government, to be able to 
command the services of a practical Cotton Planter. At 
the same time he expressed an opinion similar to that 
expressed by Mr. Imnie ; namely, that instead of at- 



1847.] VIEWS OF THE MARQUIS OF TWEEDDALE. 151 



tempting to force on the Eyots the cultivation of 
American Cotton, efforts should be directed towards 
the improvement of the Cotton already cultivated in 
the country. 

2nd, To establish small model fields, under a prac- 219 
tical Agency, amongst the Native cultivators. — With 
these views, the Marquis of Tweeddale ad- Marquis of 
vocated the establishment of an Agency, Tweeddaie's 
confined to practical Planters. He would Dec U i847 lth 
not place large Farms in their hands, but a Pari! Return 
few small patches of land, as model fields, ( 1857 )>p- 169 - 
in the midst of the Native cultivation. He believed 
that it was not the soil, nor the plant, nor the land-tax, 
which shut the Indian Cotton out of the European 
markets ; but that it was want of skill, and ignorance 
of practical causes. Accordingly, he would urge on 
the Collectors and their Assistants, the expediency of 
acquiring from the American Planter a practical know- 
ledge of Cotton culture. He would also urge on the 
Agents themselves, the importance of improving all the 
species of Cotton which were already cultivated in 
India, and of inducing Native agriculturists gradually 
to adopt those approved and inexpensive modes of cul- 
ture, which could easily be engrafted on his own* 

3rd, To set up small Gin establishments, and to 220 
keep up good roads to the Ports. — These efforts to im- 
prove the culture of Native Cotton ought to be accom- 
panied by more economical and experienced methods of 
gathering and cleaning the crop, and in preparing it for 

* The Marquis of Tweeddaie's proposition for the improvement 
of Native Cotton, was communicated to his Excellency Sir William 
Denison, who thus describes the process suggested, in a Minute dated 
29th October, 1861. " From the seed pods of this year's crop take 
out those seeds to which the longest fibres are attached, establishing 
a minimum length of fibre, and throwing away all those seeds the 
Cotton of which does not reach this standard ; these selected seeds 
will be used for the next crop, and a similar process will be followed 
with this, the minimum length being increased every year. In this 
way, in the course of a few years, it is probable that a permanent 
addition will be made to the length and possibly to the fineness of 
the fibre, and it will then be easy to spread the seed of the improved 
kind over the whole of the Indigenous Cotton fields of India." 



152 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 

the market. Improvements in this direction should be 
effected, not by large and costly gin-houses, like that 
erected at Coimbatore, but by small establishments set 
up in each Cotton locality. The gins should be of simple 
construction, and should be provided at the cost of the 
Government, until the people adopted them ; after 
which the Government should immediately withdraw. 
Again, it must be borne in mind that although foreign 
substitutes for cleaning Cotton are most valuable, yet 
the Native means of hand-picking, in a country where 
so many women and children belong to the cultivators, 
. will always constitute an essential element in preparing 
Cotton wool for the Indian market. But besides this 
improved system of culture, and improved means of 
gathering and cleaning the crop, it is essential that the 
Madras Government should, where there is no water 
carriage, create good roads from the Cotton districts to 
the several Ports, in order to give the Cotton of South- 
ern India a chance of competing in Europe with the 
produce of other countries. 
221 Limits to Government agency: the Manufacturer 
should purchase direct from the Ryot. — The Marquis 
of Tweeddale expressed his opinion that the Govern- 
ment could effect nothing beyond the three objects 
already laid down ; viz., an improved system of cultiva- 
tion, better and cheaper means of preparing the Cotton 
for the market, and better communications to the marts 
or Ports. But even these, he considered, would fail to 
secure the desired end, unless the manufacturer or his 
agent were placed in immediate communication with 
the cultivator, and purchased direct from him. He 
drew attention to Mr. Finnic' s statements already 
noticed, that inferior and dirty Cotton was the more 
profitable article to the Native dealer, and even to the 
European merchant ; and that consequently their inter- 
ests were not identical with those of the manufacturers 
or of the Government. The object of the manufacturer 
was to raise and bring into the market an article of 
such quality, and at such a cost, as might stand in per- 
manent competition with American Cotton. Whereas, 
the object of the merchant and Agent was to obtain 



1848. ] VIEWS OF THE COTTKT OF DIEECTOES. 153 



immediate profits during the current year. If the in- 
ferior article yielded a better profit to the merchant 
than the selected article, the merchant would doubtless 
take it to any extent off the hands of the Ryot and 
Native dealer. Under such a system it was impossible 
to obtain for Indian Cotton a permanent footing and 
hold in the market. It would either be an unsaleable 
drug, or else would only fetch unremunerative prices ; ex- 
cept during those occasional seasons when the American 
crop may be below the average, and consequently when 
there may be an enlarged demand by the manufacturer. 
To meet this state of things, the manufacturer must 
have his own Agent, who thoroughly knows what arti- 
cle is required, and who cannot be imposed upon by 
Native dealers to take an inferior article. At the same 
time, the Agent must be prepared to offer such an ad- 
ditional price to the Ryot or dealer for the superior 
and well- cleaned Cotton wool, as will remunerate him 
for the additional trouble that has been taken in the 
improved culture and preparation of the article. If 
this demand be a steady one, and such as the Ryot 
may depend upon, the superior article required will be 
produced at a cost which the manufacturer can afford 
to pay ; and, within a few years, to an extent which is 
now but little anticipated. 



YIEWS OF THE COUET OF DIEECTOES. 

Despatch of the Court of Directors, 1848 —These 222 
propositions of the Marquis of Tweeddale, General 
together with some others which have been [f^ 
already noticed, were treated at length in a ors, 4th July, 
despatch from the Court of Directors. In Return* 8,1 " 1, 
this despatch the Directors decided; 1st, (1857), p. 179. 
That there should be no reduction of the assessment on 
lands cultivated with American Cotton, as proposed by 
Dr. Wight ; 2nd, That Mr. Einnie should not be de- 
puted to England to enter into direct communication 
with the English manufacturers; and 3rd, They re- 
corded their decision upon the proposition of the Marquis 
of Tweeddale, — to relinquish the Government Cotton 



154 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 

Farm at Coimbatore and to confine the agency to prac- 
tical Planters, — in the two following paragraphs. 

223 1st, The Cotton Farm at Coimbatore may be relin- 
quished : it has been proved that the right Cotton can 
be grown, and the price alone remains to be ascer- 
tained. — " We concur in your opinion of the expediency 
of relinquishing the Government Cotton Farm at Co- 
imbatore. We consider that the object for which this 
Farm was established has now been fully attained, by 
demonstrating that the soil and climate of that province 
are capable of producing Cotton of a description in 
every way suited to the wants of the English manu- 
facturers. The point w^hich requires solution is, whe- 
ther Cotton of this description can be produced at 
such a cost as to enable it to compete successfully 
with the Cotton of America in the home market. This 
point can only be satisfactorily settled by leaving the 
cultivation in the hands of the Byots : and not even 
an approximation to it will be obtained, by carrying on 
the cultivation at the expense of Government, and 
under the superintendence of Government Officers. 
The Government should, however, continue to afford 
its aid by distributing American seed, either gratuitously 
or at a trifling charge, to those willing to cultivate it ; 
by authorizing the grant of small prizes for its success- 
ful cultivation, as we observe you have already done ; 
and by using all the means in your power to introduce 
improved methods of cleaning the Cotton from the 
seed, without injury to the staple." 

224 2nd, " Agency confined to practical planters" may- 
be tried on a small scale. — " The ' Agency confined to 
practical planters/ which you propose to substitute for 
the Experimental Farms, is not clearly explained ; but 
we gather from the Marquis of Tweeddale's minute of 
the 11th December, 1847, that he would have ' small 
establishments in each Cotton locality ; ' or, as he else- 
where expresses it, ' small patches of land, as Model 
Farms in the midst of the Native cultivation.' If the 
object of this measure be to ascertain by actual experi- 
ment, whether in any particular locality the soil and 
climate are suited to the production of the American, 



1849.] VIEWS OF SIB, HENEY POTTINGER. 155 



or any other description of Cotton, we see no objection 
to its being tried on a small scale. It appears to us, 
however, that much information bearing on this point 
will be obtained, when the results of the experiments 
which you have authorized Dr. Wight to institute 
through the several Collectors of land revenue, with the 
view of ascertaining the most advantageous time for 
sowing American Cotton, shall be reported." 

VIEWS OF SIR HENRY POTTINGER. 

Minute of Sir Henry Pottinger, May, 1849. — Sir 

Henry Pottinger arrived in Madras on the 7th April, 
1848. On the 15th July he penned a Mi- Sir Henry 
nute upon the Cotton experiment, which Minutf ePS 
was chiefly confined to approving of Dr. isth Ju ^j rl 
Wight's offering an enhanced price for New Return r * 
Orleans Cotton grown in India; and to 0-857), p.297. 
sanctioning the establishment of five small threshers 
and presses in different parts of Tinnevelly and Madura 
for the use of Mr. Finnie. At the same time, Sir 
Henry Pottinger expressed a confirmed opinion that 
however satisfactory the apparent out-turn of public 
agency might be, — whether through Government Farms 
or through purchases on behalf of Government, — that 
out-turn would form no criterion whereby to judge of 
the future ; because the moment the public agency 
ceased the stimulus would be exhausted, and every trace 
of it would disappear. He added that Government did 
all that could be done to obtain the desired object, when 
it encouraged the people to exert themselves, and 
placed amongst them qualified persons to advise and 
instruct them in cultivating, cleaning, and preparing 
their Cotton. Shortly after penning this Minute, the 
Court's despaftch of the 4th July must have arrived at 
Madras ; but some delay arose from the necessity of 
considering what arrangement should be made on the 
cessation of Dr. Wight's functions as Superintendent 
of the Cotton Farms.* At last on the 4th May, 1849, 

* It will be presently seen that the Madras Government partly 
misunderstood the terms of the Court's despatch. The Directors 



156 COTTON ITS T THE MADE AS PEESIDEKCT. [CHAP. Y 



about nine months after the receipt of the Court's de- 
spatch, Sir Henry Pottinger recorded his final decisions 
in a Minute, the points of which may be exhibited in 
the following form. 

226 The Experimental Earms have been fully tried, 
and their continuance would be injurious. — The time 
Sir Henry ^as now arr i ve( l f° r ^be Government to 
Pottinger's decide finally, whether or no it will continue 
m^fm? i tne Experimental Farms, and the employ- 
ParL Return ment of Dr. Wight and Mr. Finnie, and 
(1857), p. 209. ^ e | r subordinates. The Court of Directors 
has distinctly intimated its concurrence with the views 
of this Grovernment, that the Cotton Farm at Coimba- 
tore should be abandoned ; and we might have acted 
upon that intimation at once, only I have been anxious 
to look narrowly into the whole question once again, in 
order to propose the outline of an arrangement for the 
future. I may here state, that from a careful perusal 
of the whole of the papers, I am perfectly convinced 
that both the East India Company and the Madras 
Government have done all that was either requisite or 
called for, to give to these Experimental Farms the 
fairest, fullest, and most liberal trial ; and I am there- 
fore satisfied, not only that they should be discontinued, 
but that their further continuance would prove injuri- 
ous to the cause they were intended to promote ; mas- 
much as it would lead the Ryots to believe that Grovern- 
ment alone possessed the means and faculty of either 
raising the American Cotton, or of improving the cul- 
ture and quality of the Cotton of the country. 

227 American Cotton in any part of the Madras Pre- 
sidency liable to failure. — The Experimental Farms 
have undeniably established the fact that American 
Cotton can be grown in the Madras Presidency, and 
that it will occasionally produce remunerative crops ; 
but I am strongly impressed with the view that it will 
in all cases be liable to failure from the unsuitableness 
of climate and soil. The American Planters, indeed, 

were desirous only of relinquishing the Cotton Farm at Coimbatorc ; 
not of removing Dr. "Wight from his position of Superintendent of 
the Cotton Experiment. 



1849.] VIEWS OF SIE HENRY POTTINGEB. 157 

have gone farther, and have pronounced that the ex- 
periment in this Presidency is altogether hopeless ; 
and not one of them has ever supported the sanguine 
hopes and predictions of Dr. "Wight or Mr. Wroughton. 
However, the period for predictions and prospects has 
passed away ; and the Farms themselves have merged 
into a mere mercantile speculation. 

Causes of the failure of American Cotton : climate 228 
and soil. — It would be useless, and indeed I am not 
qualified, to discuss at length the causes of the failure. 
I believe that the failure is to be ascribed to the natural 
defects of climate and soil, and especially to the former. 
I appeal to all persons, who have practically studied 
the subject for any length of time in India, to say 
whether such defects are not often unaccountably in- 
surmountable ; and whether, even when they are over- 
come, the success is not to be attributed to some secret 
working of nature which it is impossible to fathom. I 
have never attempted the cultivation of Cotton, but I 
have been a very successful practical gardener in vari- 
ous parts of India ; and I have constantly found it 
impossible to bring to perfection in one place, the plants 
which flourished most luxuriantly in another. Who, 
for instance, can explain why the delicious Mangostein 
is confined to a small circle in the Straits of Malacca ? 
Why the Maize, which in every part of India requires 
unceasing irrigation, will yet grow as a dry crop on the 
hills in the vicinity of Nankin ? Why the Pumplenoses 
(West Indian Shaddock) which grew in my garden at 
Bhooj, in the rich and proverbially hot climate of 
Kutch, were far superior, both in size and flavour, to 
any that I have ever seen either at Bombay or on the 
coast of Malabar ? 

Dr. Wight ascribes the failure in Coimbatore to 229 
the want of humidity, but humidity does not mean 
rain. — I see that Dr. Wight attributes the failure of 
the American Cotton in Coimbatore to the want of 
humidity ; and I understand him to signify that the 
humidity of a climate depends upon the quantity of 
rain that falls. To this definition I beg to differ. The 
climate of the lower parts of Scinde is for some months 



158 COTTON TN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



the most humid I ever lived in ; and yet the rain, be- 
yond a few showers, does not usually fall in more than 
one year out of three or four. I believe also that there 
are other regions of the globe to which the same re- 
mark may be still more forcibly applied. 

230 The Eyots should now be left to themselves, with 
such aid as the Revenue Establishments may give. — 
I have made the foregoing remarks to show that I have 
not taken a superficial view of this important question. 
I give Dr. Wight the highest credit for his zeal and 
perseverance ; but had he even effected greater results 
than he has done, I should still think that the Eyots 
ought now to be left to themselves. The Eyots, how- 
ever, will still have the advantage of such advice and 
instruction as can be given them through the Collectors 
and Eevenue establishments ; and I propose that, after 
the departure of Dr. Wight, his two subordinate as- 
sistants, Messrs. Sherman and Cuxton, together with 
the East Indian lads who have been in his service, 
should be attached to the Eevenue establishments, at 
least for a time. Accordingly, the arrangements I now 
propose for Mr. Einnie, Dr. Wight, and the subordinates 
are as follows. 

231 Mr. Einnie to remain in Tinnevelly till October, to 
instruct the East Indian lads in the use of the Gins, 
etc. — Mr. Einnie' s engagement with the East India 
Company terminates in October next. He should 
therefore remain in Tinnevelly until that time, under 
the orders of the Officiating Collector. He should at 
once desist from all further purchases of Cotton. He 
should also cease to interfere with the culture of Cotton, 
beyond giving his advice when asked for ; because if 
he should tender his advice, and the crop should after- 
wards fail, the failure would be attributed to his in- 
novations. He should be ordered to devote his whole 
time and attention to the instruction of the Natives in 
the practical use of the gins, presses, churkas, threshers, 
and other implements required in the cleaning and 
preparation of the Cotton. One half of the East 
Indian lads now under Dr. Wight in Coimbatore, 
should be at once removed to Tinnevelly, and placed 



1849.] YIEWS OF SIR HENRY POTTINGER. 159 



under the instructions of Mr. Einnie ; so that when 
Mr. Einnie retires, they will be able to take charge of 
all the Cotton machines. 

Dr. Wight should break up his establishment in 232 
Coimbatore immediately. — Dr. Wight should discharge 
at once all establishments which have been hitherto 
employed on the Experimental Farms ; and place his 
two assistants, Messrs. Sherman and Cuxton, and the 
remaining half of the East Indian lads, at the disposal 
of the Collector of Coimbatore. 

Gin-houses at Coimbatore and Aroopoocottah to be 233 
placed under the Collectors for the use of the Eyots. — 
After the departure of Mr. Einnie, either Mr. Sherman 
or Mr. Cuxton should be transferred to Tinnevelly. 
Thus whilst the gin-houses at Coimbatore and Aroo- 
poocottah will be under the general superintendence of 
the Collectors of the district, each one will be in the 
immediate charge of either Mr. Sherman or Mr. Cuxton. 
The Eyots should, for a season at least, have the use 
of these gin-houses gratis, as well as the use of all 
other agricultural and Cotton- cleaning instruments, 
which have been so profusely and readily supplied by 
the Court of Directors. But I do not deem it either 
necessary or desirable that this system should be con- 
sidered a permanent one ; and both the Collectors of 
Coimbatore and Tinnevelly will be expected to report 
to Grovernment, when they consider that the time has 
, arrived for requiring from the Eyots a trifling sum for 
the use of the Grovernment instruments and machinery. 
, The sole occupation of Mr. Sherman and Mr. Cuxton in 
their several districts, will be to overlook the proceed- 
; ings of the East Indian lads ; who, it is assumed, will 
, be fully qualified to take charge of the Cotton- cleaning 
, apparatus. The Eevenue authorities will, on their 
, part, be most careful to guard against any one of the 
assistants or employers receiving, on any pretence 
whatever, the smallest private gratification or present 
S for work done with the public machinery. 

Unfounded complaint of the Manchester Associ- 234 
ation : the Manchester Merchants ought to help them- 
j selves. — I have observed that the Manchester Com- 



160 COTTON IN THE MADEAS PEESIDENCT. [CHAP. Y. 



niercial Association has recently stated, that it has 
been satisfactorily proved that New Orleans Cotton 
can be produced cheaply and profitably ; and that if 
the same amount of encouragement had been afforded 
in Coimbatore, as had been given in Dharwar, far 
greater quantities would have been produced. To both 
assertions I most unhesitatingly demur. Small batches 
of excellent Cotton wool have been occasionally sent to 
England from Coimbatore, but they formed the excep- 
tion and not the rule ; and as regards the alleged 
absence of insufficient encouragement, I am sure that 
no one who has taken the trouble that I have done, to 
obtain a perfect insight into the whole matter, will for 
an instant admit the correctness or applicability of the 
accusation. My own decided sentiments are that the 
Manchester Merchants must blame themselves, if there 
should be any inadequacy in the future supply ; unless 
they come forward, as they have been repeatedly urged 
to do, and apply their own agents and capital to the 
task, in which Government has set them the example, 
and pointed out, according to their own showing, so 
easy a course. 

235 State of Dr. Wight's Farm at Coimbatore, May, 
1849 : 500 acres held by lease and 200 acres worked 
by contract. — "Whilst Sir Henry Pottinger's Minute 
Memoran- was still under the consideration of the 
dum by Sir other Members of Government, and whilst 
Moiitgo- Dr. Wight and Mr. Finnie were as yet 
Ma^'is^ ignorant of the fate in store for them, Dr. 
Pari.' Return Wight happened to visit Madras, and to 
(1857), p. 2ii. call at the office of sir u enr y Montgomery, 

the Chief Secretary. Accordingly, Sir Henry Mont- , 
gomery took the opportunity of asking Dr. Wight to 
explain the exact state of his department at that mo- 
ment. Dr. Wight represented that he had about 500 

acres of land, all ploughed and ready for seed. Part of j 

this land consisted of waste ; and part was rented from ; 

Ryots, who themselves held the land on puttah or lease j 

from the Government, under the ordinary system of ( 

Eyotwary tenure. As regards these last lands, Dr. » 



1849.] STOPPAGE OF THE COTTON EXPERIMENT. 161 



Wight had agreed to pay the Government assessment, 
and something more to the Ryot as compensation ; 
that is, half as much more on dry land, and twice as 
much more on garden land. # The whole of these 500 
acres was worked by his Farm establishment and cattle ; 
but in addition, he was preparing about 200 acres to be 
cultivated by Native labourers employing their Native 
implements and cattle on the contract system. The 
ploughing for the season had already been completed ; 
and he proposed to sow the land in two months' time, 
that is, in July, with three different kinds of American 
' seed ; and also with some Sea Island seed lately re- 
ceived from the Court of Directors. The Court's order 
for six thousand bales was about half executed ; and 
Dr. "Wight continued to purchase Native seed Cotton, 
! and to gin it, as it kept the gin-house cattle at work, 
; and the ginned Cotton yielded a profit of 20 or 25 per 
cent, on cost and charges. He had 100 bales of ginned 
Native Cotton at Cochin ready for shipment ; and 
8000 rupees worth of seed Cotton, purchased at Coim- 
batore, was being ginned as rapidly as possible. As 
regarded the culture of the coming season, Dr. Wight 
calculated that it would pay all the agricultural ex- 
j penses of the Farm, exclusive of his own salary ; and 
' he considered that, now that the sowing time had been 
■ changed from the cold weather to July, the American 
; Cotton could no longer be regarded as an uncertain 
1 crop. 

Application of Dr. Wight to be permitted to sow 236 
and gather one crop more : refused, June. — It will be 
seen from the foregoing para., that Dr. Wight was 
under contract both to Native landholders and to Na- 
tive cultivators ; and that the land had been engaged, 
! and compensation paid, up to May, 1850. Accordingly 

* All lands under a system of artificial irrigation are called nunjah 
j or garden lands. Those under no irrigation, beyond what is supplied 
by the natural fall of rain, are called punjah or dry land. The Na- 
~ tive Cotton is generally grown on dry land or punjah. Dr. Wight 
- however had been anxious to try the experiment of growing Ameri- 
I can Cotton on nunjah, or irrigated land. It need scarcely be re- 
marked that a higher rate of assessment is raised from nunjah than 
from punjah land. 

M 



162 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



one of the Members of Council suggested that the land 
might be worked during the coming season, but not 
beyond the season. Sir Henry Pottinger however in- 
sisted upon the immediate transfer of the 
Parm to the Collector ; and he expressed 
his surprise that Dr. Wight, who had once 
recommended a remission of half the land 
assessment, should now have actually agreed 
to pay, not merely the whole of that assess- 
ment, but an additional compensation of 
one half more, and in some cases a rent 
amounting in the aggregate to double the 
assessment ; — a proceeding which it was 
impossible for the people to understand, 
and which could only deter them from com- 
peting with the Government who possessed 
such a command of money and means. The 
Government order was then drafted in ac- 
cordance with Sir Henry Pottinger's first 
recommendations. Dr. Wight appealed. 
He explained that when procurable he had 
obtained Government waste land ; but that 
otherwise he had been compelled to rent 
lands of the Puttahdars, or Byots, who were 
to all intents and purposes proprietors of 
the land. This practice had been in force 
prior to his undertaking the charge of the Parms at 
Coimbatore, and was altogether unavoidable ; as the 
lands could not be obtained without the payment of 
compensation to the Ryots, and the amount of com- 
pensation had been fixed before he was appointed. Dr. 
Wight also represented that his Farm had been repeat- 
edly ploughed for the coming season, and that conse- 
quently from two-thirds to three-fourths of the expense 
had been already incurred ; all of which would be lost 
unless the crop was grown. He added that this pecu- 
niary loss would be small in comparison with those 
injurious effects on the agricultural community, which 
were likely to follow the abrupt breaking up of an 
establishment, which had been in operation for many 
years, and when it was generally known that nearly all 



Mr. D. El- 
liott's Mi- 
nute, 12th 
May, 1849. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p, 213. 



Para. 121. 

Sir Henry 
Pottinger's 
Memoran- 
dum, 12th 
May, 1849. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 212. 

Minutes of 
Consulta- 
tion, 1st 
June, 1849. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 213. 



Dr. Wight's 
letter, 11th 
June, 1849. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 216. 



Para. 39. 



1849.] 



DEPARTURE OF ME. FINNIE. 



163 



the expenses of the crop had heen incurred. He there- 
fore begged that the establishment might be kept up 
for one season longer. By so doing all these disadvan- 
tages might be avoided ; the excellent and thoroughly 
acclimated stock of seed would be preserved ; and some 
arrangements might be made for others, such as the 
Manchester Association, to continue the experiment on 
their own account. The Governor in Minutesof 
Council however decided that the Cotton Consuita- 
Earm should be at once transferred to the 2 ?o? Q 

June, 184V) 

Collector, who would carry out all that Pari. Return 
was necessary in consequence of the en- ( 185 7)>p- 218 - 
gagements which Dr. Wight had made. 

Departure of Mr. Finnie from the Madras Presi- 237 
dency. — Such was the sweeping measure carried out 
by Sir Henry Pottinger's Government in June, 1849. 
We shall presently see that, as far as Dr. Wight was 
concerned, the measure was reversed by the Court of 
Directors ; but the proceedings as regarded Mr. Finnie 
were fully confirmed. The latter gentleman left the 
Presidency in the following October, but before his 
departure from Tinnevelly, he addressed a letter to Mr. 
Elton the Collector of the District, respecting the 
directions which he had received from Government to 
instruct the East Indian lads in the work- „ 

Para 233. 

ing of the gins, and concluding with a 
general review or estimate of his own labours. 

Mr. Finnie's last letter, July, 1849 :— " The gins will 238 
always remain idle after Government ceases to use 
them." — Mr. Finnie reported that he should be happy 
to instruct Dr. Wight's East Indian lads Mr p im) i e » s 
in the working of the gins, during the letter, 17th 
fifteen or twenty days that were required pall Return 
to clean the seed Cotton on hand; but (i857),p.3e4. 
that after that period the gins would never be at work, 
as the Natives would never use them after Grovern- 
ment had retired from the experiment. So long, he 
said, as the merchants continued to buy dirty Cotton, 
i so long we must despair of all improvement. Even 
the hopes which he had entertained the previous year, 
that the people would take more care in cleaning and 

m 2 



164 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



packing, had proved altogether abortive ; for during 
para 187 ^ e greater part of the season they had 
realized as much for the dirty Cotton, as 
he had given them in the early part of the season for 
the clean Cotton. Under such circumstances, all his 
efforts to induce the people to employ the gins had of 
course proved a failure. He had offered them the use 
of the machines for a mere trifle, and then for nothing ; 
but they utterly refused to have anything to do with 
them ; " and the gin-house at Sevacausey, and the 
Ceylon machinery, will remain a cenotaph to the judg- 
ment of those who urged the purchase after I had 
ascertained that they were not required.' 1 Mr. Finnie 
concluded his letter with the following expressions, 
which are worthy of preservation, as exhibiting his own 
estimate of his labours. " I have not," he said, " con- 
fined myself to the track pointed out by pseudo-sci- 
entific theory, but have launched boldly into the broad 
ocean of practical utility, guided by the north star of 
common sense, which, with some knowledge of politi- 
cal economy, with due regard to cause and effect, en- 
ables me to draw approximate conclusions as to the 
results of certain plain measures in reference to national 
internal improvement and individual prosperity. My 
only regret is that I have done so little ; that I have 
accomplished nothing for the benefit of this country 
and its Ryots ; but I have done my best, and I can now 
return to my Native land with the proud satisfaction 
of having discharged my duty to my employers.' ' 
These were apparently the last words of Mr. Finnic 
It is however currently reported that Mr. Finnie' s last 
words were of a very different complexion ; and were 
to the effect that he owed it, as a duty, to his country, 
to prove that American Cotton would not grow in 
Personal Southern India, and that this latter duty 
information. was the one w T hich he considered he had 
fully performed. 
239 Decision of the Madras Government as regards Dr. 
Wight, reversed by the Court of Directors, September. 
— The proceedings of Sir Henry Pottinger's Govern- 



1849.] 



DE. WIGHT RETAINED. 



165 



merit as regarded Dr. "Wight, seem to have 
been altogether opposed to the wishes of fromttie 
the Court of Directors. Immediately after Coi } rt of J*- 
the receipt of the proceedings, the Court Sept./isisi. 
sent out a despatch, in which they ordered ^g^^S 
a reversal of the resolutions which had 
been passed by the Governor in Council. They were 
of opinion that, under the circumstances mentioned by 
Dr. Wight, it would have been desirable to avoid the 
abrupt termination of his arrangements. They had 
previously concurred in the opinion that the Govern- 
ment Cotton Farm in Coimbatore might be relinquished, 
because they had considered that the object for which 
that Farm had been established had been fully attained, 
" by demonstrating that the soil and climate of the 
Coimbatore district were capable of producing Cotton 
of a description in every respect suited to the wants of 
the British manufacturer." But at the same time, 
they had directed that the Madras Government should 
continue the distribution of American seed ; and they 
had authorized the cultivation of fields in particular 
localities, with the view of ascertaining whether the 
soil and climate of those localities were suited to the 
production of the American, or any other description 
of Cotton. Whilst therefore they had believed that 
the time had arrived for discontinuing the extensive 
farming operations at Coimbatore, they had not intend- 
ed to prohibit the cultivation on a small scale on ac- 
count of Government. Again, they had expressly 
ordered that Dr. Wight's purchases of American Cot- 
ton from the Ryots at remunerating prices should not 
be discontinued ; and it was neither their wish, nor 
their intention, that Dr. Wight should be removed 
from the office of Superintendent of Cotton Experi- 
ments under the Madras Presidency. Accordingly, 
the Directors expressed their regret that the Madras 
Government should have adopted a course, which could 
searcely fail to produce an impression, both in India and 
in England, that they had become less earnest in pro- 
moting the object, equally important to both countries, 



166 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [€HAP. Y. 

of obtaining from India a supply of Cotton suited to 
the requirements of the English manufacturers. 
240 Dr. Wight's services to be retained: Mr. Finnie's 
dispensed with. — The Court of Directors then ordered 
that the Coimbatore Farms should, if not too late, be 
cultivated according to the plans laid down by Dr. 
Wight ; and that at the close of the season, both the 
lands, and the machines and implements, should be 
delivered over at a fair valuation to any company of 
Merchants and Planters who might offer to continue 
the experiment. As regarded Dr. Wight, they con- 
sidered that before giving up the superintendence of 
the Cotton experiments, he should be called upon to 
furnish a clear and connected account of the experi- 
mental cultivation on the Coimbatore Farms, and in 
other parts of the Madras Presidency ; together with 
such observations as his scientific and practical know- 
ledge might enable him to supply as to the causes of 
success or failure. Such a report, they said, could not 
fail to be a useful document, as a guide for those who 
might be hereafter engaged in similar undertakings. 
As regarded leaving future operations in the hands of 
the Collectors, the Directors remarked that little could 
be accomplished by those officers, unless the latter 
could look to some properly qualified officer to direct 
their proceedings, and to digest and methodize such 
results as might be obtained. Again, considerable 
advantage w r as to be expected from the experiments 
which had been in progress under the superintendence 
of Dr. Wight throughout the Presidency, with the 
view of acertaining the most suitable time in the year 
for sowing the American seed ; and such experiments 
would be of little avail, unless the officer, by whose 
suggestions they had been undertaken, should be in a 
position to examine and report on these results, aided 
by his own extensive experience in the practical cul- 
tivation of Cotton in other localities. Accordingly, 
the Directors expressed their opinion, that Dr. Wight 
should retain the position of Superintendent of Cotton 
Experiments under the Madras Presidency, until these 
objects were accomplished ; but at the same time they 



1849.] BESTJMPTION OP THE COTTON EXPERIMENT. 167 



approved of the decision of the Madras Government to 
dispense with the services of Mr. Pinnie at the termin- 
ation of his engagement. Mr. Finnie, as para 2g7 
we have already seen, left the Madras Pre- 
sidency in October this year. 

State of the Farms at Coimbatore. — Meantime, Dr. 241 
"Wight was staying at Madras preparatory Dr. wight's 
to retiring from the service ; but on receipt ^y^^} 
of instructions from the Madras Govern- Pari' Return 
ment to resume his office of Superintendent ^ 1857 * p * 231, 
of the Cotton Experiment, he at once repaired to Coim- 
batore, and placed himself in communication with Mr. 
Thomas, the Collector of the district. The _ 
lands he had rented, as described in a pre- 
vious paragraph, had all been given up to the Ryots, 
except two or three fields which had been taken up by 
a Cape Farmer named Prince, who had visited Coim- 
batore in order to receive instructions in Cotton cul- 
ture, and who but for that accommodation must have 
returned without attaining the object of his mission. 

Dr. Wight cultivates American Cotton by irriga- 242 
tion. — As the season was too late for Dr. Wight to 
cultivate American Cotton as a dry crop, he resolved 
to try the plan of cultivating both Native and Ameri- 
can Cotton by the aid of irrigation, as proposed in his 
Circular of the previous March. Accord- para 
ingly he rented several garden lands, or 
lands under irrigation ; and he proposed to have them 
cultivated under his direction by the proprietors of the 
lands, for the purpose of familiarizing them with his 
practice. In these gardens he proposed to sow every 
variety of Cotton seed which he had in his possession; 
namely, Sea Island and Bourbon of the long-stapled 
varieties ; and New Orleans, Petit Gulph, and Native 
Cotton of the short-stapled varieties. Dr. Wight had 
also written to Mr. Cuxton in Tinnevelly, to ascertain 
the capabilities of the climate on the South-eastern 
coast for the production of American Cotton by a 
similar course of procedure. 

Postponement of Dr. Wight's Cotton Report— The 243 
clear and connected account of the experimental culti- 



168 COTTON IK THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. V. 



vation on the Coimbatore and other Farms, which the 
Court of Directors had called on Dr. Wight to supply, 

Para 240 was P os ^P one( ^ f° r a wnue until the latter 
could obtain further materials. Upon this 
point Dr. "Wight observed that such a report, to be 
really useful and satisfactory, must be comprehensive, 
embodying both principles and practical details. Ac- 
cordingly, the completion of the Report was delayed for 
two years and a half, and was not finally addressed to the 
Madras Government until May, 1852. Before however 
exhibiting the subject matter of this final report, three 
matters require especial notice ; viz. — 1st, An attempt 
to improve the Indian Churka ; 2nd, An attempt to 
simplify the American saw gin ; and 3rd, The further 
progress made in the cultivation of American Cotton. 
2M 1st, Mather's improved Churka. — This machine was 
constructed in Bengal, and obtained a prize, but was 
never fairly tried in the Madras Presidency, nor indeed 
does it seem to have been regarded as generally satis- 

Pa l Re ort ^^J* differed from the ordinary 

(1857). Ben- Madras Churka, described in para. 25, in 
III' and439 ^ ne ^'°^ owm g particulars. The upper roller 
was of steel instead of wood. The motion 
of one was communicated to the other by means of a 
spur wheel and pinion instead of an endless screw, by 
means of which the upper roller performed four re- 
volutions to one of the lower roller. A fan of strong 
whalebone brushes was also attached, for cleaning the 
staple as soon as it has passed through the rollers ; 
much in the same manner as the brush- wheel attached 
to the American gin, cleaned the staple after it was 
Mr Pinnies se P arate( i from the seed by the circular 
letter, Toth saws. Opinions were expressed both by 
Dr ar wignt^' I)r - Wight; and Mr. Einnie on the descrip- 
letter, 4th tion of the machine which was forwarded 
^? r Henry 8 ' to tne Madras Government ; and accord- 
Montgo- ingly it was requested that two Mathers's 
ter^i7tn et " improved Churkas might be sent to Dr. 
April, 1848. "Wight's experimental Farm. No further 

Pari. Return b , r . , . , . ., . . v 

(1857), pp. report upon their working capacity is to be 
390,391. found in the Madras records. From the 



COTTAGE SAW GIN 




1849.] MANCHESTER COTTAGE SAW GI1S". 169 



reports published in the Cotton Blue book for Bengal, 
the improved Churka appears to have failed to meet 
the expectations which had been formed of either its 
cheapness or its efficiency ; whilst its cost was sixty 
rupees, or double the cost of the Cottage gin described 
in the next paragraph. 

2nd, The Manchester Cottage saw Gin. — The Cot- 245 
tage gin was an attempt to simplify the American gin, 
and so far to cheapen it, as to bring it within the 
means of the Indian Kyot. Its principle was the same 
as that of the American gin, and an illustration is ap- 
pended which will perhaps prove sufficient to explain 
its working. Instead of sixty or even twenty saw 
wheels, there are but four, and each saw wheel is only 
ten inches in diameter. The length of the Cottage 
saw gin is only two feet ; and its height is only twenty 
'inches at the hopper, and sixteen inches over the 
brushes. The weight of the whole is only j^yie's Cot „ 
seventy-five pounds. The saws and brushes ton culture, 
are put in motion by wheels and bands p - 540 - 
turned by two winches, one on each side, which may 
be moved by two children. The working of the 
machine is the same in principle as that of the larger 
gins. The seed Cotton is thrown into the hopper, and 
carried away by the circular saws ; and as the seed is 
too large to pass through the narrow grating, the staple 
alone is carried away, and the seeds fall down. Thus 
the staple is separated from the seed at the moment 
the saws pass through the grating; and the staple is 
cleaned and brushed off from the saws by the brush- 
wheel which revolves in an opposite direction. 

Twenty-four Cottage saw Gins received by the Ha- 246 
dras Government, 1849. — The Cottage saw 
gins described above, had been constructed fJoS the 1 
under the direction of the Manchester Court of Di- 
Commercial Association, as being specially and°i?t'h 7th 
adapted for the use of the Indian Eyot. ^ c ^ e ^; 
The cost, exclusive of all charges for freight (1^57), p. sS! 
or carriage, was about £3, or thirty rupees, 
each. Twenty-four of these saw gins were despatched 
to the Madras Presidency, in order that their efficiency 



170 COTTON IN THE M1DEAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 



might be practically tried. The results of their trial 
by the Madras Chamber of Commerce, and subse- 
quently by Dr. Wight, may be thus exhibited. 
2 17 Report of the Madras Chamber of Commerce : the 
working of the Cottage saw Gin unsatisfactory. — In 
Mr. Nelson's November one of these Cottage saw gins 

Noif r i849 was SUDrQ i^^ e( i "t° "t ne Madras Chamber of 
Pari? Return Commerce, and was tried twice in the pre- 
(1857), p. 383. gence f t | ie memDers# Mr. Nelson, the 

Chairman, reported that the members present regarded 
the result as unsatisfactory : — 1st, Because the mode of 
operation might have been deranged by a wrong ad- 
justment of the saws ; and 2ndly, Because the gear 
might have been put in better working order by a 
person thoroughly acquainted with the machine. The 
results were thus summed up. The seed Cotton sub- 
mitted to the action of the gin consisted of New Or- 
leans, Bourbon, and Tinnevelly. With the New Or- 
leans the gin did not effectually separate the wool from 
the seed; its action was frequently choked, and the 
small quantity delivered was considerably injured in 
the staple. "With the Bourbon the effect was worse ; 
the staple being very much cut up, and rendered unfit 
for spinning. With the Tinnevelly the gin entirely 
failed to separate the staple from the seed ; and such 
portions as came through were utterly useless for 
spinning purposes. 

248 Expense of the Cottage saw Gin an insuperable bar 
to its employment in India. — But even apart from 
these defects in the working of the Cottage saw gin, 
the Chamber was of opinion that its cost would prove 
an insuperable bar to its general use in the Cotton 
districts ; and it was doubted whether a Native would 
voluntarily work a machine of such a description, even 
if its successful operation was rendered much more 
evident. The Chairman's report concluded with the 
significant notification that no member of the Chamber 
had expressed a wish to purchase any of the gins. 

249 Br. Wight reports favourably of the Cottage saw 
Gin. — Four months after the foregoing trial, Dr. Wight 
sent to the Madras Government a highly favourable 



1850.] 



THE D II All WAR SAW GIK. 



171 



report of the working of the same gins. Br. Wight's 
He requested that the whole of the Cot- March 2 i85o 
tage saw gins then in Madras might be Pari. Return 
forwarded to his establishment at Coim- (1857), p. 884. 
batore, with a view to their being cleaned and fitted 
for work. He said that those already received had 
been found to do their work exceedingly well ; all 
except the bands, which were unequal to the strain 
they had to endure during the course of two or three 
days' steady working. He therefore felt surprised at 
the very unfavourable report of the Madras Chamber. 

Prices of the Cottage saw Gin to Natives and Euro- 250 
peans. — A few days afterwards, Dr. Wight reported 
that he had received three applications for 
the purchase of Cottage saw gins, and re- ^t^f&th 8 
quested to be informed at what prices he Marengo, 
might supply them. The cost price in orde^Sd 
England was £3 each, and this was of Aprii/isso. 
course exclusive of freight and charges. (i857),p.385! 
The Madras Government however informed 
Dr. Wight, that he might dispose of them at twenty- 
five rupees (£2 10s.) each, or at a lower rate still, if 
he thought it necessary to encourage purchasers. These 
orders, however, were only to apply to Native appli- 
cants ; Europeans were to be charged the prime cost in 
England, or 30 rupees per gin. 

Favourable report of the Collector of Tanjore : sub- 251 
sequently reversed. — About the same time Mr. Bishop's 
Mr. Bishop, Collector of Tanjore, who had March^nd 
also received two Cottage saw gins from 8th July, 
government, reported that they worked Return ar ' 
very well, and inquired whether he could (i857),p. 386. 
be furnished with three or four more, at a moderate 
price, for sale in his District. Three months after- 
wards, however, he countermanded the order, as the 
Cottage gins tore the Cotton too much to be of ser- 
vice. 

Favourable reports on the Bharwar saw Gin. — 252 

Meantime, a saw gin in use in Dharwar had attracted 
the attention of Mr. Pelly, the Collector of Bellary. 
Mr. Pelly had been informed that the Dharwar gin 



172 COTTON m THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 



253 



Mr. Pelly's 
letter, 6th 
April, 1850. 
Collector of 
Cuddapah's 
letter, 13th 
April, 1850. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 387. 



the Revenue 
Board, 29th 
April, 1850. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 386. 

Order of Go- 
vernment, 
3rd June, 
1850. Pari. 
Return 
(1857), p. 388. 



could be worked all day by two men alter- 
nately ; that it cleaned about 1^ maunds 
(42 lbs.) of seed Cotton per hour, thus doing 
about three times the work of the Man- 
chester Cottage gin ; and that it cost only 
40 rupees. At the same time the Collector 
of Cuddapah expressed a strong opinion 
upon the importance of introducing a suitable gin. 
Letter from Accordingly, the Board of Revenue solicited 
sanction from the Madras Grovernment for 
the purchase of fifty Dharwar gins ; twenty- 
five for experimental use in Bellary, and 
twenty-five for Cuddapah ; at a cost of £4 
each, or £200 for fifty. By this time, how- 
ever, further supplies of the Manchester 
Cottage gin had been received from England, 
making a total of seventy-two gins. Under 
these circumstances the Madras Grovernment was un- 
prepared to expend £200 in Dharwar gins ; and di- 
rected that Dr. Wight should furnish the Collectors of 
Bellary and Cuddapah with as many Manchester Cot- 
tage gins as could be spared ; but in addition author- 
ized each Collector to purchase for trial in bis District 
five of the Dharwar gins. 

Br. Wig&t compares the working of the Dharwar 
Dr. wight's Gin, the Manchester Cottage Gin, and the- 

Juiy r i850. lar ^ e Hand Gin.— The report of Mr. Pelly, 
Pari.' Return that the Dharwar gin cleaned 42 lbs. of 
(i857),p.389. gee(i Cotton per hour, and that it could be 
worked the whole day long, naturally led to an applica- 
tion from Dr. Wight, that he also might be supplied 
with a model of this machine, for trial in his establishment 
at Coimbatore. The letter is somewhat confused, inas- 
much as information as to the relative cost of labour 
on the churka and the various sorts of gins, is inter- 
mixed with arguments to prove that the reported suc- 
cess of the Dharwar gin was incredible. The 
latter question, considered apart, may be 
very briefly treated. The Manchester Cot- 
tage gins were each worked by only one 
man or one woman at a time. If worked 
by men, the average out-turn of each was 



Mather's 
Machine, 
Bengal P. R,., 
p. 415. See 
also p. 463, 
for American 
60-saw gins 
at Coimba- 
tore. 



1849-52.] 



EELATIYE COST OF LABOUR. 



173 



from 70 to 75 lbs. of seed Cotton per diem ; if worked 
by women, the average out-turn of each was only from 
50 to 60 lbs. On the other hand, it was reported that 
the Dharwar gin, worked by two men alternately, 
could clean 42 lbs. per hour, or 220 lbs. in six hours. 
The reported superiority of the Dharwar gins, was 
equally manifest when compared with the large hand 
saw gins, which were built after American models. 
The Dharwar gins, worked by only two men alternately, 
could clean 220 lbs. of seed Cotton in six hours, and 
could be worked for a whole day, thus cleaning 440 lbs. 
in twelve hours. "Whereas the large hand gins, worked 
by eight men, four and four alternately relieving each 
other, could only clean about 500 lbs. in six hours, or 
about 83 lbs. per hour ; and these eight coolies found 
the work so fatiguing that they could never continue it 
for more than six hours in one day. Accordingly, Dr. 
"Wight applied for a model of the Dharwar gin ; and the 
Madras Government directed the Collector of Cudda- 
pah to supply him with one, but no further information 
respecting the working of it appears upon the records. 

Relative cost of labour on the Churka, the Man- 254 
Chester Cottage Gin, and the large Hand Gins. — The 
coolies on the Manchester Cottage gins were paid at 
the rate of one anna for every maund of seed 

Cotton which they cleaned ; but on the large hand 
gins they were only paid eight pies (Id.) per maund. 
This enhanced rate had been found necessary in the 
first instance to induce the coolies to work the Cottage 
gin ; but Dr. "Wight considered that had the lower rate 
been always paid, their assiduity would have been 
greater, and consequently the out-turn would have been 
larger. Again, it is curious to notice that the coolies 
only cared to earn a certain amount per diem, and did 
not feel inclined to work more than was necessary to 
obtain that amount. Thus the women with the churka 
could only earn each per diem from six to nine pies, 
that is from three farthings to a fraction more than a 
penny. The same women with the Manchester Cottage 
gin could each earn two annas, or three pence, per diem 
With ease ; and they might, if they liked, earn as much 
as k\d. per diem, but that they never seemed to care 



174 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 



to do. It seems doubtful whether this reluctance to 
earn so much, arose from a corresponding reluctance 
to work, or from a fear lest the rate should be lowered 
if it was found that they could earn so large an amount 
per diem. 

255 Three years' progress in the Cotton experiment, 
1850-52.— During three years, that is from 1849 to 1852, 
the Cotton experiment seems to have proceeded with- 
out many references to Grovernment. This is not sur- 
prising considering the circumstances. Dr. Wight was 
carrying on his duties in Coimbatore by the express 
orders of the Court of Directors, and in direct opposi- 
tion to the opinions expressed by the Government of 
Sir Henry Pottinger. The gin-house at Coimbatore 
was sold to Mr. D. Campbell, a Madras merchant, who 
unfortunately died a few months afterwards. Mean- 
time Dr. Wight continued to distribute American seed, 
and to purchase the produce from the Ryots ; and was 
also engaged in drawing up the final Report, which had 
been ordered by the Court of Directors. The general 
progress of the experiment is thus set forth in this Ee- 
port, which was addressed to the Madras Grovernment 
Para 263 * n ^ a ^' 1852, and which will be found fur- 
ther on. During this period some other 

Cotton experiments were carried on in Coimbatore, 
Tanjore, and Tinnevelly, which are worthy of special 
notice. 

256 Colonel Lav/ford's cultivation by irrigation in Tan- 
jore. — Colonel Lawford's successful cultivation of 
American Cotton in Tanjore by means of irrigation has 
Para. in. already been mentioned. JSTo results how- 
ever appear to have followed. In July, 1849, 

fetter^sth Mr * Elton ' the Collector of Tinnevelly, re- 
July, 1849, commended that a fair trial of Colonel 
^857)^*303 I^wfc^d's plan should be tried in his dis- 
trict, as a comparison of the cost of culture 
Minutes of "by irrigation with the cost of culture on 

Corisulta- J . P n j i j i 

tion, 12th poonjah or dry lands, could alone prove 
pSrRetlirn whether the increase in the produce would 
(1857), p. 305. be sufficient to cover the additional cost of 
production. But the Madras Government 



1849-52.] MR. WROUGHTCXN's COLLECTORATE FARM. 175 



Board of 
Revenue's 
letter, 9th 
August, 1849. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 317. 



Minutes of 
Consulta- 
tion, 28th 
Aug., 1849. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 319. 
See De- 
spatch, 4th 
July, 1848. 



at that time was indisposed to engage in any J^e^nth 
further experiments, and passed a resolu- June?i849. 
tion that if irrigation was to be tried at all ^857)^3^ 
it must be tried by the E-yots alone. About 
the same time, the Collector of Tanjore was anxious to 
make a similar experiment on the annicut 
of the river Manney ; and he suggested that 
he should be allowed to grant a tract of 
land, rent free for three years, to such Byots 
as should be prepared to cultivate it with 
~New Orleans Cotton. The suggestion of 
the Collector was strongly supported by the 
Board of Eevenue, but the Madras Govern- 
ment considered that it was precluded by 
the orders of the Court of Directors from 
granting any such remission of the assess- 
ment. The Collector, however, was permitted 
to distribute American seed at the expense of Govern- 
ment, and to afford the use of implements to clean and 
prepare the Cotton for the English market, and to pre- 
sent small prizes for its successful cultivation. JSTo 
results appear to have followed the experiment worthy 
of record. 

Mr. Wroughton's Collectorate Farm at Coimbatore. 

— About the same time, Mr. Wroughton, the Collector 
of Coimbatore, left the Presidency for Europe. Mr. 
Wrough ton's successful cultivation of American Cot- 
ton has already been noticed. During four 
seasons prior to 1849, he had carried on the 
same experimental culture on a Earm of 
about sixty acres ; and he was anxious that 
the experiment should be continued after 
his departure from the country. Sir Henry 
Pottinger did not consider that Mr. Wrough- 
ton, any mora than Dr. Wight, had estab- 
lished any satisfactory result beyond the 
bare fact that American Cotton of a superior 
quality would grow in Coimbatore, and that 
if favoured by seasons it would produce very 
fine crops. The Madras Government, how- 
ever, authorized the continuance of the ex- 



Para. 66. 

Memoran- 
dum of Sir 
Henry- 
Montgom- 
ery, 10th 
April, 184-9. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 306. 



Memoran- 
dum of Sir 
Henry Pot- 
tinger, 14th 
April, 1849. 
Pari. Return 
(1857), p. 308. 



257 



176 COTTOK Iff THE MADRA.S PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. V. 

periment under a Duffadar, who had been previously 
engaged under Mr. Wroughton, and who was now to 
be placed under Mr. Thomas, the new Collector. No 
actual results appear to have followed the continuance 
, of the experiment ; but some remarks by Mr. Thomas, 
in reference to the obstacles in the way of inducing the 
Eyots to cultivate American Cotton, are worthy of 
notice and may be exhibited here. 
258 Mr. Thomas's opinions upon the best method of in- 
ducing the Ryots to cultivate American Cotton.— 
Mr. Thomas recommended the continuance 
mas's letter, of the Collectorate Farm, because the cul- 
1850 M p£i tivation of American Cotton would never 
Return ' be undertaken by the Eyots, without much 
(1857), p. 3U. encouragemen t, and long and satisfactory 
evidence of its feasibility. He believed that their re- 
luctance arose from these causes. First, the national 
apathy and dislike to enter on any new and untried 
method or speculation. Secondly, the fact that the 
New Orleans Cotton required a somewhat better soil 
and moister atmosphere than the Native Cotton. 
Thirdly, there was a pressing want of a home mar- 
ket and demand for the American Cotton. This 
last obstacle was the most important of all. The JNa- 
tive cultivator had neither the means nor the enterprise 
to grow for a distant or foreign market. The Native 
merchant would readily buy the shorter but stronger 
fibre of the Indian Cotton, because it was considered 
more suitable for Native looms and manufactures ; but 
the American Cotton he would not buy. It therefore 
remained for private European mercantile agency to 
create a certain and ready market in the Cotton dis- 
tricts, bv buying the Eyot's Cotton every year at a lair 
rate for* cash. Such a local agency would command a 
large supply of New Orleans Cotton, or of any other 
commodity which the soil and climate of the district 
were capable of producing. In addition to the creation 
of local markets, the object in view would be greatly 
facilitated by advances to the Eyots, personal inter- 
course, punctual payments, and other similar arrange- 
ments, private and mercantile, which would be practica- 



1849-52.] MR. LEES' CULTURE IN TLTOEVELLY. 177 



Lie through an European Agency. Government also 
1 might aid the effort by a very slight and temporary re- 
1 duction of the assessment on all lands under foreign 

Cotton ; but still Mr, Thomas believed that a sure and 
' permanent market on the spot would be a sufficient 
J encouragement ; and that if the crops of Native Cotton 
' could pay the land-tax, the crops of American Cotton 

would be able to do the same. 
Cotton cultivation by Mr. David Lees in Tinneveily : 259 

discussion concerning the right of Chayroot Renters. — 

• The experiments of Mr. David Lees in the correspond- 
cultivation of American Cotton in Tinne- enceand 
velly, and their failure on the score of cost p a ri r Retum 

1 of cultivation, will be found noticed in Dr. (i857),p.3i9, 

"Wight's final report, but a few additional 
" particulars will find a fitting place here. Mr. David 

Lees had originally proceeded to Southern India, under 
' the sanction of the Manchester Commercial Associa- 
' tion, to make experiments and ascertain facts in con- 

• nection with the cultivation of American Cotton. The 

• success of those experiments subsequently induced him 
to establish his nephew, Mr. Arthur Lees, in Tinneveily, 

8 as a Cotton planter and merchant ; in order that he 
might continue and extend the cultivation, and at the 

1 same time purchase all the American Cotton that the 
6 Ryots were disposed to cultivate upon his own im- 
1 proved system. An obstacle, however, arose to his own 
cultivation from the claims of the Chayroot renters. 
" These men paid a considerable sum to G-overnment for 

9 the right to dig up all the Chayroot # produced in the 
° ! Tinneveily district, whether on waste land, or on land 
n occupied with dry cultivation. This right had been 
1 farmed out from time immemorial ; and accordingly in 

} December, 1850, nearly a whole year after the com- 
mencement of the Cotton culture, the Chayroot renters 
claimed the privilege of entering the fields under cul- 
ture by Mr. Lees, and of their digging up the Chay- 
[l: roots with a kind of spear about a foot and a half long. 
" Mr. Lees of course resisted this claim, especially as the 
' digging for the roots was injurious to the cultivation of 

* A root from which a certain dye is extracted. 
I N 



178 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 



American Cotton. The Chayroot renters then de- 
manded compensation. The matter was brought to the 
notice of the Court of Directors by the Manchester 
Commercial Association ; and the Directors instructed 
the Madras Government to relieve Mr. Lees from any 
demand in excess of the regular assessment ; and on 
the renewal of the Chayroot farms to restrict the renters 
to the uncultivated lands. The Madras Grovernment, 
however, had already anticipated those orders, by can- 
celling the existing Chayroot farm, and by restricting 
the terms of future farms in such a way as to debar the 
renters from all lands under cultivation. The matter 
led to some further correspondence as to the propriety 
of levying an assessment on the lands producing Cot- 
ton, equal to what was levied on lands producing Chay- 
root. As, however, it subsequently appeared that Mr. 
Lees's experiment had proved a failure, the quantity 
obtained being insufficient to pay the cost of culture, 
no alteration was made in the assessment, and things 
remained as they were. 
260 Discussion respecting the purchase of American 
Cotton on Government account from the Eyots of Tin- 
nevelly. — In April, 1852, a correspondence arose respect- 
ing the purchase of American Cotton from the Byots 
in Tinnevelly. It seems that Mr. Bird, the Collector 
Dr. Bird's of Tinnevelly, had applied to Dr. Wight 
AprifiS 11 ^ or some ^7 or seventy bags of New Or- 
Pari. Return leans Cotton seed, to be distributed amongst 
(1857), p. 233. the Eyots f t k e district. At the same 

time Mr. Bird had represented that if the Grovernment 
would permit him to purchase the produce of the seed 
on their account at the rate of nine annas a toolam (2 J 
maunds) on the spot, — being the rate which had been 
previously paid by Mr. David Lees, — he was satisfied 
that the Byots would accept the seed and cultivate it 
freely; and he added that unless a certain market 
were placed before the Ryots of Tinnevelly, they would 
never undertake the cultivation of the New Orleans 
plant. Dr. Wight forwarded Mr. Bird's letter to Go- 
Dr. Wight's vernment, and recommended that the au- 
AplS'iS thority requested should be granted. He 



1849-52.] DE. WIQHT's FI^AL COTTON .REPORT. 179 

also suggested that, in such case, the Go- Pari. Return 
vernment decision should be forwarded to (1857) 'P- 233 - 
the Manchester Association ; as he believed that the 
Association would then be induced to establish Agen- 
cies themselves for the purchase and growth of exotic 
Cotton at several stations along the coast, and thus give 
an impetus to the cultivation, which no amount of 
Government patronage could supply. 

Authority for the purchases refused by the Madras 261 
Government.— It is scarcely necessary to add that the 
authority for the purchases was refused by Sir Henrv 
Pottinger's Government. It was decided Minutesof * 
that the instructions of the Court of Direct- Si^Hemy 



ors did not authorize the Government to mhM^y 
sanction any such engagement ; that it was 1852 - Ord< 
the duty of the Manchester manufacturers menMsT' 



v m - ~* — AJLLCHU, IS L 

to send their own agents to the Cotton- J u ne,i852. 
growing districts, to make their own bar- (i857) R pp Um 
gains with the cultivators. If the rate pro- 233 ' 234 * 
posed was a fair one, it ought to be offered by the mer- 
chants ; but as it was, the proposition seemed to be in 
reality a suggestion that the Government should pur- 
chase Cotton at any price, and then sell it to the manu- 
facturers of Manchester at such a rate as was best 
suited to their trading purposes. 

Completion of Dr. Wight's Report, May, 1852.— 262 
About this time Dr. Wight appears to have completed 
the final Eeport which he had been called Dr m 
upon to draw up by the Court of Directors. Reportf 8 
The Eeport is a long one, but the following u^llf 1 
summary contains the whole of the facts Pari! Return 
and opinions set forth in the original docu- ( 1857 )>p- 235 - 
ment. This was deemed peculiarly necessary here ; for 
though much that is stated has already appeared in 
former paragraphs, it will be convenient for the reader 
to have the whole of Dr. "Wight's matured results at 
one view. It will be remarked that nothing is said of 
the results of the season of 1849-50 when the irrigation 
experiment was tried ; and indeed there is reason to 
believe that the experiment proved a failure in Coimba- 
tore. 

n 2 



180 COTTON TN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. t. 
DR. WIGHT'S FINAL REPORT, 12th MAY, 1852. 

263 Stage of the Cotton experiment in 1849 —The fol- 
lowing Eeport has been delayed in order to enable me 
to exhibit the very important changes which have taken 
place during the last three years, and which are going 
on, I trust, with still greater rapidity. Previous to 
1849, # notwithstanding the inducements held out of 
high prices and certain markets, the Eyots of Coim- 
batore would only cultivate American Cotton to a very 
limited extent ; and then they proceeded in such an 
unwilling and unsatisfactory manner as almost to en- 
sure a failure. At the same time, the reports, which 
reached me from other parts of the country, were ge- 
nerally unfavourable ; and almost led to the belief that 
the soil and climate of India were actually unfitted for 
the growth of American Cotton, and that my own con- 
victions to the contrary were based upon error ; though 
in reality they rested upon the fact that we usually 
produced good average crops, and often very heavy 
ones, under circumstances which were by no means 
peculiarly favourable. 

264 Improved prospects during 1850-51 and 1851-52. — 
Within the last ten years a series of changes have taken 
place, not perhaps sufficiently advanced to admit of 
certain conclusions, but still holding out a most en- 
couraging prospect. "Within that brief period, many 
of the Eyots of Coimbatore appear to have become so 
convinced of the great advantages to be derived from 
cultivating American instead of Native Cotton, that 
last season they planted between 1500 and 2000 acres of 
ground with it, and seem as if they intended to treble the 
quantity during the present year. At the same time I 
have had numerous requisitions from various quarters 
for supplies of seed ; and in answer to my Circular ad- 
dressed to the Collectors, all except one have requested 
more or less of the new seed just arrived from home 
for their respective districts. Lastly, within about the 
same period, a novel extension has been given to the 
experiment, which promises to yield most important 

* The year Mr. Finnie, the American Planter, left India. 



1852.] DR. WIGHT'S FINAL COTTON REPORT. 181 

results. I allude to those trials which are now in pro- 
gress on the sea coast. These trials have been con- 
ducted under considerable disadvantages, originating 
from want of agricultural experience; but still their 
past success almost leads one to anticipate, that the 
Sandy soils of the coast will hold the same relation to 
the American Cotton as the Black soils of the interior 
hold to the Native plant. 

Previous reluctance of the Eyots to cultivate Ame- 265 
rican Cotton connected with the existence of the Cot- 
ton Farms. — I cannot account for the previous unwill- 
ingness of the Natives of Coimbatore to cultivate 
American Cotton. It must, however, have been con- 
nected with the existence of our Farms ; for, whilst 
they were in full operation, nothing would induce the 
Ryots to cultivate the American plant beyond a very 
limited extent ; whereas now that they have been dis- 
continued the cultivation is rapidly extending. 

Ryots encouraged by their own success to extend 266 
the cultivation. — The gradual extension of the culture 
of American Cotton by the Ryots is also to be ascribed 
to the success of their own experiments. When the 
Farms were given up in the season 1849-50, the grow- 
ing crops on them were made over to the Ryots. Those 
who tended them with care obtained unexpectedly large 
returns ; and even those who took no trouble, obtained 
much more than they expected, and much more than 
they would have done had the land been cultivated, 
however carefully, with Native Cotton. These successes 
seem to have satisfied all who were interested in the 
matter, that there was but little difference between the 
modes of cultivating American and Indian Cotton, 
whilst larger returns could be obtained from the former 
than from the latter. The experience of the current 
season 1851-52 has greatly strengthened these impres- 
sions. Two fields of Red soil side by side were both 
cultivated by Natives, one with Native and the other 
with American Cotton ; and the Native Cotton only 
produced about 27 lbs. per acre, whilst the American 
Cotton produced 57 lbs. Again, two fields of about 
22 acres, one Black and the other Red, were sown ; the 



182 COTTON IN THE MADE AS PEESTDENCT. [CHAP. T. 

Black soil with Native Cotton, and the Red soil with 
American Cotton. The Black field produced 500 lbs. 
of Native Cotton, whilst the Bed field produced 1250 
lbs. of American Cotton. Both were sown at the same 
time in November ; and both enjoyed the same climate 
and culture. During this same season, the two mon- 
soons were each below the average ; yet the crops of 
American Cotton have been generally heavy, and those 
of the Indigenous Cotton generally light. This result 
has particularly pleased the Native growers. The fact 
is, that the Native Cotton was sown during the north- 
east monsoon, which proved a failure ; whilst the greater 
part of the American Cotton was sown during the 
south-west monsoon in July and August, and being 
well advanced before the scanty north-east rains set 
in, derived great benefit from them. Indeed, when so 
managed, the danger to the American Cotton lies in 
the excess, rather than in the deficiency of the north- 
east rains. Thus, during unfavourable seasons, the 
chances are in favour of American Cotton over Native ; 
and it may be presumed that the chances will also be 
greater in favourable seasons ; and that consequently the 
Byots will continue the cultivation of the exotic plant. 

267 Large results in 1850-51 and 1851-52.— In 1850-51 
I had more applications for American seed than in any 
previous year ; probably in consequence of the success- 
ful crops obtained by the Byots from the relinquished 
Farms. The season was not a favourable one, yet I 
was enabled to purchase fifty- one bales of Native-grown 
American Cotton. This success gave such an additional 
impetus to the change of feeling already in progress, 
that the applications for seed in 1851-52 were on a still 
more extended scale ; and I have already despatched 
ninety bales of Native-grown American Cotton to 
England, and expect before the end of the season to 
obtain a great many more. 

268 Ryots adopt Dr. Wight's practice. — Hitherto the By- 
ots have adopted one system of culture. 1st, Selecting 
light sandy soils through which both the roots and 
moisture can easily penetrate. 2nd, Sowing in rows 
instead of broad-cast. 3rd, Ploughing and otherwise 



1852.] DE. WIGHT'S FINAL COTTON REPORT. 183 



cultivating the land between the rows. The Natives 
have already discovered and appreciated one great ad- 
vantage in this last measure, namely, the facility it 
affords for fallowing, whilst the crop is still on the 
ground, by repeated ploughings between the rows as a 
preparation for the next rotation. Tallowing is much 
in vogue amongst the Natives, apparently because it 
furnishes a cheap substitute for manuring. 

Refutation of the theory that the climate and soil 269 
of India are unfitted for American Cotton. — The view, 
that the climate and soil of India are so far inimical to 
the constitution and habit of the American plant as to 
render its naturalization impossible, is based on im- 
perfect observation and on a comparison of dissimilar 
things. 

1st, The theory is founded on the assumption that 270 
Indian Cotton has succeeded when the American has 
failed. — The opponents of the cultivation of American 
Cotton in India assume that the Indian plant is less 
precarious than the American plant, and that the Indian 
has generally succeeded when the American has failed. 
This assumption, however, is not only incorrect, but 
the real case is exactly the reverse ; for whenever we 
had bad crops of American Cotton, the crops of Native 
Cotton were much worse. I am satisfied that, if during 
the last ten years equal areas had been annually appro- 
priated to each, the out-turn from the American would 
in most cases have exceeded that from the Indian both 
in weight and value. 

2nd, The theory is based upon a comparison of 271 
crops grown in India, and of crops grown on the Mis- 
sissippi, instead of those grown in Georgia. — Again, 
many have compared the crops of American Cotton 
grown in India with the crops grown in America, with- 
out sufficiently adverting to the difference in the cir- 
cumstances under which they have been respectively 
produced. Neither the soil nor the climate of India 
are inimical to the American plant. This is proved. 
For eleven years the American plant has been cultivated 
in India in all kinds of soil, such as rich and poor, wet 
and dry ; and in all kinds of climate, such as temperate 



184 COTTON IN THE MADE AS PEESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 

and hot, humid and dry ; yet, whilst the weight of the 
crops has greatly varied, the quality both of the Cot- 
ton and the seed has remained comparatively unaltered. 
The error has arisen from a comparison of crops raised 
in India, with the crops raised in the most fertile dis- 
tricts of America, which lie along the banks of the 
Mississippi. 

272 Differences between India and the Mississippi do 
not prove that the soil of India is inimical to Ameri- 
can Cotton, — The fertility of a soil depends on causes 
which are liable to vary. It often differs widely in 
adjoining fields, it is in a perpetual state of change, 
and it is more or less modified by every crop grown. 
In the deep alluvial deposits along the banks of the 
Mississippi, the material on which the Cotton plant 
feeds, is found in such abundance, that several suc- 
cessive crops are taken off, without any alternation, and 
without any other manure than what is supplied from 
the ashes of the old plant which is burnt upon the 
ground. In the soils of India this material which 
supports the Cotton plant was perhaps never so abund- 
antly supplied as on the Mississippi; and is now so 
greatly exhausted from long use, that the land produces 
about one fourth less, and rarely yields two successive 
crops from the same field. This deficiency is not to be 
attributed to anything inimical in the soil of India, 
but simply to its impoverishment. This is proved by 
the fact that heavy crops have been obtained in India 
from land newly broken up. Generally, however, a 
crop amounting to between 400 and 500 lbs. of seed 
Cotton per acre, equal to about 144 lbs. of clean Cot- 
ton, may be regarded as a heavy crop ; and this will 
give a very handsome profit to the grower, being nearly 
double that which is usually obtained from the Native 
plant, even when grown in' the best and most fertile 
Black soils. 

273 Soil of Southern India better compared with that of 
Georgia. — If we really wish to compare the crops of 
India with those of America, we ought to take the 
Georgian districts, where the Upland Georgian Cotton 
is grown. There from 400 to 500 lbs. of Cotton per 



1852.] DE. WIGHT'S FINAL COTTON EEPOKT. 185 



acre is considered a very good crop, and thus the 
Georgian districts are on a par with the medium soils of 
India ; yet no one alleges that the soils of Georgia are 
unsuitable to the growth of American Cotton. 

Climate of Southern India not so congenial as that 274 
of Georgia: evil obviated by sowing in August or 
September. — The climate of Southern India however is 
not so congenial as that of Georgia. The seasons in 
the former country are drier, and the crops suffer more 
from drought. This however does not arise so much 
from any insufficiency in the quantity of rain, but from 
the rain falling within too short a period. Occasionally 
there is scarcely a shower for months, until the mon- 
soon regularly sets in ; and then, instead of the total 
fall of rain being distributed over two or three months, 
nearly the whole of it will fall within two or three 
weeks, or even within two or three days. In the light 
Sandy soils, which are the best adapted for the Ameri- 
can plant, the effect of this new distribution of the 
rain is unfavourable. This evil however can be ob- 
viated. There is generally sufficient rain in August 
and September for sowing the seed; and when the 
plant is once fairly above ground it can stand a pro- 
tracted drought. Consequently there would rarely be 
any loss of crop during the brief interval between 
August and September, and the setting in of the 
north-east rains ; and after the rains, such an event 
would be a still rarer occurrence, as the plant grows 
rapidly during the rains and strikes deep root, thus 
securing for itself a steady supply of moisture long 
after the surface has become dry. 

Leading principles of Cotton culture in the Car- 275 
natic: sowing before the Korth-east Monsoon, and 
selection of soil. — This principle of sowing during the 
chance rains, which fall in August and September in 
anticipation of the north-east monsoon, ought to be 
kept steadily in view. By so doing, I believe that 
American Cotton might be successfully grown in any 
part of the Carnatic. I also believe, that if due care 
be bestowed on the selection of soil, the losses from 
failure will be rarer in the future cultivation of Ameri- 



186 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



can Cotton, than they are at present in the cultivation 
of the Indigenous plant. In Coimbatore, the Ameri- 
can Cotton sown during the autumnal showers of 
August and September has yielded very fair returns ; 
whilst the Native Cotton, which was not sown until 
the commencement of the north-east monsoon in 
October or November, has generally failed. The north- I 
east rains only lasted a week ; and consequently were 
sufficient to bring the more advanced American plants 
into bearing, but were insufficient for the Indian plants 
which were only just sown. In a word, I have no 1 
hesitation in stating it as my conviction, that the 
American Cotton may and will become as thoroughly § 
naturalized in Southern India as the Native species ; 
and that on the average it will be quite as productive 
on the Black soils, and infinitely more on the light 
Sandy loams. 

276 Objection of Native spinners to the soft silky fibre 
of the New Orleans Cotton. — One objection stands in 
the way of our expectation, that the cultivation of 
New Orleans Cotton will supersede the cultivation of 
Indian Cotton. The fibre of the New Orleans is soft 
and silky ; that of the Indian is hard and rigid. I 
The Native spinners have been so long accustomed to 
work the latter, that they find it difficult to work the 
soft and silky fibre of the New Orleans Cotton. But 
this objection is giving way in some districts ; practice 
overcoming the difficulty. When I first came to Coim- 
batore, the Bourbon Cotton, which is still softer than 1 
the New Orleans Cotton, was not used by the Native 
spinners ; but now they use it to a very great extent. | 
In like manner the New Orleans will come into Native 
use when it is more largely produced, and when its j 
price has found a just level and acquired a market j 
standard. 

277 DifELculty of separating the seed, and the prejudice | 
against the seed as food for cattle. — The only remain- 
ing impediments to be removed are : — 1st, The diffi- 
culty of separating the seed ; and 2ndly, The prejudice 
against the seed as food for cattle. It is far more I 
difficult to separate the wool from the New Orleans, j 



1852.] DR. WIGHT'S FltfAL COTTON REPORT. 187 



than it is to separate the wool from the Bourbon seed. 
At present the growers of New Orleans Cotton are 
compelled to sell their whole crop of Cotton with the 
seed in it, instead of selling the clean Cotton wool 
only. This trebles the cost of carriage, and prevents 
the grower from retaining any portion for domestic 
consumption. The other impediment is the prejudice 
which exists against the use of the New Orleans seed 
for feeding cattle. It is considered to be insalubrious. 
This prejudice however has already been overcome to a 
very great extent. 

Nothing wanted to secure a rapid extension of the 278 
American Cotton culture, but a steady market and 
moderate competition. — All that is wanted to secure a 
rapid extension of the cultivation of the American 
plant, is a steady market ; and such a moderate com- 
petition amongst the merchants as will convince the 
growers of the reality of the demand. Were such 
competition established, I fully believe that twenty 
thousand acres would be cropped with American Cot- 
ton within three years ; and that the cultivation would 
rapidly extend from Coimbatore to the neighbouring 
districts. The cultivation is just as simple, and just 
as well understood, as that of the Native plant, and 
the cost is not greater; whilst the crops are in the 
main just as certain, and the produce far greater and 
more valuable. Such being the advantages which the 
American Cotton possesses in the inland districts over 
; the Native staple, it would soon obtain the same gener- 
\ al favour among the agricultural community of Coim- 
batore, as it has already acquired in Dharwar, if ex- 
porters* would only stimulate its production by giving 
it the preference over the Oopum or Native Cotton. 

Cotton cultivation on the Coromandel coast: New 279 
Orleans, Sea Island, Egyptian, and Brazilian. — Having 
thus described the present condition and future pro- 
spects of the experiment for denaturalizing the Ameri- 
can Cotton in the inland districts of Southern India, 
:t now only remains for me to indicate what has been 
loing on the Coromandel coast. Here I apprehend 
A'ill be found a favourable field for the cultivation of 



188 COTTON ITs THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y.jl 

several of tlie most useful varieties of foreign Cotton ;j $ 
particularly the Mexican or New Orleans, the Seam 
Island, the Egyptian, and the Brazilian or Pernambuco, h 
The three last are long- stapled Cottons, and fetch high; \ 
prices in the English market. My remarks however^ 
will be less explicit, as I have seen but little of the^ 
coast experiment, which is still in its infancy, andj tt 
which has laboured under considerable disadvantage, ft 
from being conducted by gentlemen but little con-^ 
versant with agricultural affairs. K 

280 Partial success of Mr. David Lees on the sandy I 
coast lands of Tinnevelly: error as regards deep w 
sowing. — The cultivation of American Cotton by Mr. ;lt 
David Lees, on the sandy coast lands of Tinnevelly,^ 
has proved only partially successful ; for whilst Mr, f 
Lees was a warm and sanguine advocate of the experi- 1 
ment, he was unfortunately an unskilful agriculturist. [ 
He desired to modify the cultivation by deep sowing;^ 
and feeling dissatisfied at the results of sowing theft 
seed three inches under the surface, he gave directions w 
for sowing it still deeper. This modification wasj} 
founded on an erroneous deduction, and its practice p 
has already been found to do harm. Cotton ought t ] 
not to be sown deeper than one or two inches. Whatf] 
is required is a light loose soil, into which its slender j 
tap root can easily penetrate ; and when that is secured. ji 
the nearer the seed lies to the surface the better^] 
Nature sows entirely on the surface, and ordains that p 
the root shall descend and the stem ascend. Loose 
soil and light covering promote both these ends, and 
are more likely to increase than to diminish the pro- 
duce ; and indeed, unless the former of these conditions ^ 
be secured, and maintained by occasional hoeing and j 
ploughing between the rows, the plant does not thrive J 
The roots, in short, of a healthy growing plant require j 
the free access of the air, almost as much as the leaves j 
require light ; and unless they have it, the plant be- r 
comes more or less sickly. 

281 Sandy soils along the Coromandel Coast adapted tc 
the cultivation of American Cotton. — But whilst the tt 



•'852.] DR. WIGHT'S FLtfAL COTTON REPOKT. 189 



uecess of Mr. Lees' experiment fell far short of his 
anticipations, it has established beyond all doubt that 
c he sandy soils along the Coromandel coast, aided by 
'he humid atmosphere, are very suitable to the cultiv- 
ation of American Cotton ; a fact which is daily be- 
coming more firmly established by the success attend- 
ing the well-conducted efforts of Messrs. Longshaws at 
Trichindore in Tinnevelly, and of Mr. Kenrick at Ma* 
Uras. In addition to a light assessment, these lands 
)ossess a further advantage, which is important in a 
I ropical climate, of being easily cultivated in all seasons, 
Ivhether wet or dry. Consequently the cost of cultiv- 
ation is materially lessened. Moreover, there is mois- 
ture for the most part near the surface, and generally 
Within reach of the roots of the plant, which have a 
tendency to penetrate to a great depth in search of it. 
K expect, therefore, that the crops will prove much more 
iniform, inasmuch as they will be less liable to injury 
3| Tom occasional protracted droughts. Giving due 
i[ veight to these favourable circumstances, I anticipate 
%hat crops averaging from 200 to 250 or even 300 lbs. 
1 3er acre, will generally be realised ; at which rates, if 
l[ :he Ryots can only be induced to engage heartily in 
l! ]he cultivation of these foreign Cottons, the shores of 
1 :he Carnatic will alone, in the course of a few years, be 
'ible to produce many thousands of bales ; and, having 
":he advantage of cheap transit to the port of export, at 
' prices which will at all times enable the Indian to 
Compete with the American grower, 
o , 

Sir Henry Pottinger's Government condemns Dr. 282 
Wight's lieport. — The foregoing Eeport of Dr. "Wight 
}l Iid not meet with the approval of the Ma- Sir Henry 
'iras Government. In fact Sir Henry Pottinger's 
r Pottinger wrote a Minute violently con- m^is^ 
- iemning it. Considering that it was the Eg^f^ 
'result of experiments extending over eleven ' I} * 
years, he pronounced it to be a meagre and unsatis- 
f factory document, in which the statements and opinions 
%ere alike unsupported by facts. 



190 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



283 Recommends, that as the Farms had proved inju- 
rious, and that as the Agency was no longer neces- 
sary, — all Government intervention should be with- 
drawn. — Sir Henry Pottinger drew special attention 
to two admissions made by Dr. "Wight : — 1st, That so 
long as the Government Farms were in full operation, 
no amount of inducement that he could hold out 
seemed to have any effect in stimulating the Ryots to 
engage in the cultivation of American Cotton, beyond 
a very limited extent ; 2nd, That nothing more was 
wanted to secure the rapid extension of the American 
plant but a steady market, and moderate competition 

among merchants, to convince Indian grow- 
Para. 218. erg ^ e Cotton was really in demand. 
The Madras Government inferred from the first ad- 
Minutes of mission, that the further existence of Go- 
Consuita- vernment Agency was injurious ; and from 
July, 1852. ^ ne second admission that it was unne- 
Part' Return cessary. Accordingly the Governor in 
'' p * Council recommended that Government 
should abstain from all further intervention in the 
matter. 

284 Dr. Wight's protest against the conclusions of 

Dr. wight's the Madras Government. — Dr. Wight 
vernment^ " protested against the inferences which 
lothAug.' the Madras Government had drawn from 
Return* 83 * 1, his two admissions on the following 
(1859), p. 243. grounds. 

285 1st, The Government Farms had not proved injuri- 
ous, but the groundless suspicions of the Ryots. — The 
true reason why the Ryots had refused to cultivate 
American Cotton, was not because they were alarmed 
at the expenditure, but because they believed that it 
was incurred with the view of raising the rent of the 
land, so soon as it was ascertained that they could 
successfully cultivate the New Cotton. This belief 
was not stated in so many words as here set down ; but 
it was expressed in terms sufficiently clear not to be 
misunderstood. The Ryots certainly never had any 
ground for distrusting the honour and uprightness of 
our intentions ; but still the correctness of the inter- 



1852.] FINAL DECISION OF MADRAS GOVERNMENT. 191 



pretation of their language, was confirmed by the fact 
„ of their systematically holding back, until they saw 
] what they considered to be good reason for believing 
their suspicions to be groundless and unjust. 

2nd, The Government Agency had not proved un- 
necessary, as it removed the suspicions of the Ryots. — 
Though Dr. Wight had stated that nothing further 
j was wanted but remunerative prices on the spot, it 
was not to be inferred that the continuance of Govern- 
ment Agency, after the withdrawal from the Cotton 
Farms, had proved wholly unnecessary. It was the 
temporary continuance of the Agency, which had re- 
\ moved the suspicions of the Ryots, and led to the in- 
[ crease of the cultivation. Had not Dr. "Wight been on 
j the spot, the cultivation of New Orleans Cotton in 
Coimbatore would have nearly ceased with the crop of 
1849 ; whereas by his purchases of produce at liberal 
, prices, and by his reiterated assurances of the good 
, faith of Government, the cultivation had so extended, 
I that during the current season he had already distri- 
' buted 400 maunds of seed. Moreover, Dr. Wight 
represented that, had he not continued his purchases 
H of American Cotton from the Eyots, he would have 
I acted prematurely, and would moreover have created 
j doubts of our probity. Seven or eight years previously, 
Government had agreed to purchase from the Eyots all 
" well-cleaned picked Cotton. Circumstances had com- 
: pelled Dr. Wight to continue his purchases. The old 
j contract, made some seven or eight years previously, 
by which Government had agreed to purchase from 
the Eyots all first sort of American Cotton at 20 
j| rupees per candy, had never been cancelled. The gin- 
j house at Coimbatore had been purchased by Mr. 
J Campbell, the merchant ; and Mr. Campbell had agreed 
d to retain the same terms. But meantime Mr. Camp- 
f bell had died, and prices had so fallen at home, that 
\ had he lived he would have been a loser. The only 
\ other merchant in the place, being bound by no con- 
. tract, would only give from 16 to 17 rupees per candy. 
. Under such circumstances, the Eyots represented to 
\ Dr. Wight that he was bound to purchase the Ame- 



192 COTTOK m THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. Y. 



rican Cotton at the prices fixed in the still uncan- 
celled contract ; and that unless he did so, they would 
grow no more American Cotton. Dr. Wight saw 
both the justice and the expediency of their claim ; but 
whilst fulfilling his duty as Government Agent, he 
took the opportunity of cancelling the long-standing 
agreement, and of assuring the Ryots, that if they con- 
tinued the cultivation of American Cotton, after the 
current year, they must run the chance of the market, 
exactly as they were in the habit of doing in the case 
of the Native article. 
287 Retirement of Dr. Wight: Final Despatch of the 
Court of Directors, 1853. — Dr. Wight appears to have 
retired from the service, and to have left India in 
March, 1853. In the following July, a despatch from 
the Court of Directors was addressed to the Madras 
Government, ordering that all purchases of American 
Cotton should cease from that date, and that all direct 
interference in the culture of foreign Cotton should be 
gradually withdrawn. 

The following is a literal copy of the despatch of the 
Court of Directors : — 

u REVENUE DEPARTMENT, 

20*A July, 1853. 

« OUR GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AT FORT ST. GEORGE. 

"1. We entirely approve your having declined to entertain the 
proposal of Dr. Wight, that all the Cotton grown by the Ryots in 
Tinnevelly from American seed, should be purchased at a fixed rate 
by the Government. There are now, it appears, individuals con- 
nected with Manchester settled in the District ; and if the price at 
which the Ryots can afford to sell the Cotton is greater than it suits 
the purpose of those parties to give, it is hopeless to attempt to force 
the cultivation by factitious encouragement on the part of Govern- 
ment. 

" 2. The statement of Dr. Wight, that since the relinquishment 
of the Government Farms in Coimbatore, the Ryots have taken to 
the culture of American Cotton on their own account, to an extent 
considerably greater than during their existence, would seem to 
imply that the time had arrived when the interference of Govern- 
ment could properly be withdrawn. All that is now wanted, you 
observe, is a purchaser on the spot ready to give a fair remunerating 
price to the Ryot for his Cotton, and in your opinion, this object can 



1852.] DESPATCH OF THE COTJET OF DIEECTOES. 193 



only be attained by affording full scope to private enterprise, and by 
abstaining from all intervention on the part of Government. 

" 3. In our despatch of the 4th July, 1848, we directed that the 
purchases of American Cotton on the part of Government, should 
not, at that time, be discontinued ; observing, however, < We are 
satisfied that no satisfactory and permanent extension of the cultiv- 
ation of the American Cotton will be attained, until the persons 
most interested in its production shall take the matter into their own 
hands, by locating in the Districts competent Agents, empowered to 
purchase from the cultivators such Cotton as may be produced of a 
description suited to the wants of the manufacturers in this country.' 

" 4. We are of opinion that a sufficient period has elapsed since 
the date of these instructions, for the course of proceeding indicated 
in them to be adopted ; and that, if the inducements to engage in the 
purchase of Indian-grown American Cotton for use in this country 
are still insufficient, a further perseverance in our efforts to force the 
cultivation, by means apart from the ordinary operations of com- 
merce, can lead to no beneficial result. We accordingly think that 
we may properly withdraw from the market as purchasers of Ameri- 
can Cotton ; and we hereby convey to you our authority for 
gradually relinquishing all direct interference in the culture of Cot- 
ton of that description, in the hope that it has now reached a point 
where it may be safely left to private enterprise. 

" We are, &c, 

E. ELLICE, 
J. OLIPHANT." 



o 



CHAPTEE VI. 



PRESENT CONDITION OF THE COTTON CULTTJBE IN THE SE- 
VERAL DISTRICTS OF THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 1853 
TO 1862. 

(288.) Stage of the # Cotton Experiment, 1853-62.— (289.) Survey of 
the present Cotton cultivation in the Madras Presidency. 

(290.) First, Northern Circars : four Districts. — (291.) 1. Ganjam : 
produce inconsiderable hut easily increased by money advances. — (292.) 
2. Vizagapatam : Cotton grown insufficient for home consumption and 
not remunerative. — (293.) 3. Godavari: Cotton supply larger but in- 
sufficient for the wants of the District. — (294.) 4. Kristna : large Cotton 
supply. 

(295.) Second, Eastern plain of the Carnatic : eight Districts. — 
(296.) 1. Nettore : a grazing District. — (297.) 2. Madras : Native Cot- 
ton not grown. — (298.) Experiments in Foreign Cotton : Mr. Shubrick's 
successful cultivation of the Egyptian variety. — (299.) Experimental cul- 
ture of the Brazil or Pernambuco variety by Dr. Mudge. — (300.) 3. North 
Arcot: Red soil, and consequently no Indian Cotton. — (301.) 4. South 
Arcot : inconsiderable quantity of Indian Cotton. — (302.) 5. Trinchin- 
opoly : quantity of Cotton inconsiderable : mode of cultivation. — (303.) 
6. Tanjore : Soil not favourable without irrigation, and with irrigation 
the cultivation of rice is preferred. — (304.) 7. Madura : detailed report 
from the Collector. — (305.) Soil. — (306.) Geology and topography. — 
(307.) Climate.— (308.) Seed used and whence obtained.— (309.) 
Character of the Cotton plant. — (310.) Mode of cultivation, time of 
flowering, weight of Cotton wool per acre. — (311.) Manure. — (312.) 
Diseases. — (313.) 8. Tinnevelly : Mr. Mayne's detailed report. — (314.) 
Soil.— (315.) 1st, The Caresal, or Black soil.— (316.) 2nd, The Veppel, 
or Black and Sandy soil. — (317.) 3rd, the Pottel, or stiff clayey soil. — 
(318.) 4th, The Shevel, or Bed Soil.— (319.) Geology and topography.— 
(320.) Climate.— (321.) Seed used and whence obtained.— (322.) 
Character of the Cotton plant. — (323.) Mode of cultivation, time of 
flowering, weight of Cotton wool per acre, etc. — (324.) Manure.— (325.) 
Diseases.— (326.) Mr. Silver's report.— (327.) Queries of Sir William 
Denison, with Mr. Silver's replies. — (328.) Letter from Mr. Hardy, 
European Agent at Tuticorin. — (329.) Third, Central Table-land : 
five Districts. — (330.) 1. Bellary : detailed report from the Collector. — 
(331.) Soil.— (332.) Geology and topography.— (333.) Climate.— (334.) 
Seed used and whence obtained. — (335.) Nature and Character of the 
Cotton plant. — (336.) Method of cultivation, time of flowering, and 
weight of Cotton wool per acre, etc. — (337.) Manure.— (338.) Diseases. 
—(339.) 2.Kurnool: a Cotton-growing district.— (340.) Cost of transit : 



1853-62.] STAGE OP THE COTTON EXPERIMENT. 



195 



the sole obstacle to increased production. — (341.) Improvements in the 
quality must be effected by the Merchants themselves. — (342.) 3. Cudda- 
pah : present state of Cotton as reported by Mr. Wedderburn, the Col- 
lector. — (343.) Detailed report by Mr. Murray, the previous Collector. — 
(344.) Soil— (345.) Weeds.— (346.) Geology and topography.— (347.) 
Climate. — (348.) Seed used and whence obtained. — (349.) Character of 
the Cotton plant. — (350.) Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight 
of Cotton wool per acre, etc. — (351.) Manure. — (352.) Diseases. — (353.) 
4. Salem : Messrs. Fischer and Co., the only exporters. — (354.) 5. Coim- 
batore : detailed report of Mr. Thomas, the Collector. — (355.) Soil : 
Black, Red, and Alluvium. — (356.) Geology and topography. — (357.) 
Climate. — (358.) Seed used and whence obtained. — (359.) Character of 
the Cotton plant. — (360.) Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight 
of Cotton wool per acre, etc. — (361.) Manure. — (362.) Diseases. 

(363.) Fourth, Western strip, or Malabar Coast : three Districts. 
— (364.) 1. North Canara : not a Cotton-producing District. — (365.) 
Report of the District Engineer on the experimental culture of Mr. 
Kleinknecht. — (366.) 2. South Canara :.. not a Cotton-producing District. 
— (367.) 3. Malabar : not a Cotton-producing District. — (368.) Native 
States : Mysore, Cochin, and Travancore. 

(369.) Conclusion : general results.— (370.) Four general conclusions. 
— (371.) 1st, American Cotton can be grown, but the profit is question- 
able. — (372.) 2nd, Indian Cotton may be improved, but only to a degree. 
— (373.) 3rd, American Cotton must always command a higher price than 
Indian. — (374.) 4th, The demand for Indian Cotton must always depend 
upon the supply of American. — (375.) Political and, Commercial prospects 
of Indian Cotton. 

Stage of the Cotton Experiment, 1853-62.— The ef- 288 

forts on the part of the Madras Government to intro- 
duce American Cotton and American machinery into 
the Madras Presidency, virtually closed with the de- 
1 parture of Dr. Wight from India in 1853. Since that 
period, some experiments in the growth of American 
Cotton have been carried out by private individuals, 
and may be said to have confirmed the general results 
worked out by Dr. Wight - r namely, that under the 
conditions set forth in the preceding pages the foreign 
plant may be successfully cultivated, and a staple pro- . 
duced far superior to that appertaiuing to the Indian 
plant. But the question of whether this better-stapled 
Cotton can be grown with profit to the cultivator, 
seems as far from solution as ever. Before however 
offering any comment upon these results, it is advisable 
to take a general survey of the present condition of the 

o 2 



196 COTTON IN" THE MADKAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. YI. 



Cotton cultivation in the several districts of the Ma* 
dras Presidency. 

289 Survey of the present Cotton cultivation in the 
Madras Presidency. — In carrying out the review thus 
indicated, it will be advisable to proceed with each 
district separately, according to the geographical dis- 
tribution of the several Collectorates already set forth 
at para. 9, viz. : — 1st, Northern Circars ; 2nd, Eastern 
Plain ; 3rd, Central Table Land ; and 4th, Western 
Strip. The materials for this survey have been selected 
from a mass of official reports and other documents, 
which it is not thought expedient to print in extenso. 

290 1st, Northern Circars: four Districts. — The North- 
ern Circars consist of a long narrow arm of territory 
stretching from the Pagoda of Juggernaut on the 
frontiers of the Bengal Presidency, southward along 
the Bay of Bengal to the river Kristna. It comprises 
four Districts : viz. — {!.) Ganjam, (2.) Vizagapatam, 
(3.) Godavari, (4.) Kristna. 

291 (1.) Ganjam : produce inconsiderable but easily in- 
creased by money advances. — In this district the 
Cotton cultivation of late years seems to vary from 

A endixl ^ 0Ur ^ nousan( ^ *° s ^ x thousand acres. As 
ppen . ^ e q Uan ^2ty of Cotton grown is so insigni- 
ficant, the Collector merely makes a few general ob- 
servations. He says that there is one material fact 
which has not been made sufficiently clear to the mer- 
cantile community at home ; namely, that the Native 
agriculturalist will undertake nothing new on the mere 
assurance that it is in demand in a distant market. 
Mr Eorbes's Cases where the security of profit would 
letter, 20th appear most perfect to the European mind, 
Apni, i86i. WO uld have no effect upon the Native. 
JBut on the other hand, there is no tropical produce 
which the European with capital might not com- 
mand, by bringing his capital into immediate contact 
with the producer. If suitable money advances were 
made on the spot, Egyptian Cotton and other fine 
varieties could be grown in Ganjam within an easy 
distance of the coast. 



1853-62.] NOETHEEN CIECAES : FOUE DISTRICTS. 



197 



(2) Vizagapatam : Cotton grown insufficient for 292 
home consumption and not remunerative. — In this 
district the average produce of Indigenous Cotton is 
about the same as in Ganjam. During the three years 
preceding 1861-62, the average extent of Mr Faiie » s 
lands under Cotton cultivation was 5753 letter, 22nd 
acres, which produced an average of about July ' 1861# 

250 lbs. per acre. This quantity is not sufficient for local 
consumption. Much cleaned Cotton is imported from 
Eajahmundry (Kristna) ; and much English Cotton 
yarn and twist are imported almost every month from 
Calcutta and Madras. The Collector also remarks 
that the production might be increased by three mea- 
sures. 1st, By offering rent free all the waste and 
jungle lands in the Government Talook of Negapatam 
(nearly 6000 acres) on the condition that nothing but 
Cotton was grown. 2nd, By sanctioning two good 
bullock roads, connecting Jeypore and Eaipore with 
the coast. 3rd, By putting a stop to the exorbitant 
tolls demanded from the traders by the Zemindars 
between the Cotton-growing districts of Nagpore and 
the coast. The Revenue Board did not consider that 
any real benefit would ensue from the false stimulus of 
granting lands rent free ; but recommended the other 
measures to the consideration of G-overnment. In a 
subsequent communication, the Collector remarked, 
that the chief cause why the Eyots of Yiza- Mr p ane » s 
gapatam did not grow Cotton more largely letter, 15th 
was because it did not pay. Eight months 
were required to produce a Cotton crop, whilst two 
crops of Gingely, and other dry grains, might be pro- 
duced from the same lands within the same time, and 
secure a larger profit to the grower. 

(3) Godavari : Cotton supply larger but insuffi- 293 
ctent for the wants of the District. — This district 

: (Eajahmundry and Masulipatam) produces ji r . pu^'s 
- a larger quantity of Cotton than Vizagapa- tetter, j|th 
tarn or Ganjam, the extent of land so culti- ov *' 
I vated reaching 12,000 acres. The quantity raised, how- 
ever, is still insufficient for the home consumption, and 
further supplies are imported from the Kristna district. 



198 COTTON m THE MADE AS PKESIDEKCY. [CHAP. VI. 



The means of communication between the uplands on 
which the Cotton is grown and the ports of shipment 
are all easy. 

294 (4) Kristna : large Cotton supply. — Guntoor, which 
now forms part of this district, is regarded as a Cotton- 
growing country. Upwards of 100,000 acres are under 
Cotton cultivation, and, as we have seen, a considerable 
quantity is exported to the Godavari district. Every 
exertion is being made by the Department of Public 
"Works to effect a junction between two canals, — that 
from Bezwarah, and that from Dowlashwarum to El- 
lore, — which will render the line of inland water com- 
munication complete from the Cotton-producing locali- 

Mr Thorn ^* es ^ e coas *- -^ ne following particulars 
Mil's letter, &re supplied by Mr. Thornhill, the Collector. 
i86i. N ° v " " The Cotton produced in this district is 
partly consumed within its limits, but by 
far the greater portion is transported by land to the 
■northern districts of Godavari and Vizagapatam, where 
it is used by£he native weavers. Very little, however, 
is exported by sea, and none is shipped direct for Eu- 
rope. The Cotton is picked in the dry season, and is 
seldom cleaned and packed before the setting in of the 
monsoon in June ; and therefore it cannot be moved 
until the following December or January, as the roads 
are not passable until that time. The soil suited to 
the cultivation is very widely spread, and therefore it 
cannot be doubted that the extent of land under culti- 
vation would be largely increased, in the case of a 
larger demand, accompanied by a rise in price. At 
present the greater part of the Cotton grown is of the 
sort called " Bed Cotton," which I am given to under- 
stand is not now in demand for the European market. 
I do not, however, think that any measure of Govern- 
ment would have any effect in increasing the produce. 
There is abundance of room for an extension of the 
cultivation, and the merchants have only to send their 
Agents into the country, to enter into agreement with 
the cultivators, and to show them that the cultivation 
wdll be profitable, to induce them to bring more land 
under Cotton culture. In the same manner it rests 



1853-62.] CARNATIC : EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



199 



with the merchants to point out the kind of Cotton 
that is required, and to make arrangements for the 
more speedy and effectual cleaning and packing of the 
crop. 

2nd, Eastern plain of the Carnatic : eight Districts. 295 

— This territory, lying between the Eastern Grhauts and 
the Bay of Bengal, extends from the Northern Circars 
to Cape Comorin, and is generally known by the name 
of the Carnatic. It comprises eight districts : viz. — 
(1) JSTellore, (2) Madras, (3) North Arcot, (4) South 
Arcot, (5) Trichinopoly, (6) Tanjore, (7) Madura, (8) 
Tinnevelly. 

(1) Nellore : a grazing District. — This district pro- 296 
duces about the same quantity of Cotton as Godavari, 
and but little more than suffices for its own wants. It 

is in fact a grazing district, and agricultural Mr g m i t h> s 
operations of all kinds are carried on very letter, 10th 
negligently ; the people being more addicted ^Ji. Return 
to rearing cattle than to cultivating the (i857),p.89. 
land. 

(2) Madras: Native Cotton not grown. — In this 297 
district, with the exception of some four acres, no 
Indigenous Cotton is grown by the Kyots, though some 
experiments have been made by private individuals in 
the cultivation of foreign varieties. As regards the 
Native Cotton, it has been grown only by ^ r Reade's 

one Eyot ; and Mr. Charles Eeade, whilst j^ er ^S th 
Acting Collector, drew up a few questions, an " 
in order to ascertain from the solitary cultivator, what 
his views and feelings were, particularly in reference to 
the extension of the cultivation. From the Ryot's re- 
plies it would seem that he had emigrated from the 
north of India, where it was customary to cultivate 
Cotton. Accordingly he brought some seeds with him, 
and planted them in his village in the Madras district ; 
but he intended the produce, not for sale, but for home 
consumption ; spinning the Cotton into thread, and 
employing weavers to make it into cloths for his own 
use. The attempt, however, proved unsuccessful, as 
the soil was not congenial to the plant ; and on this 
account he was not willing to extend the cultivation. 



200 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. VI. 



298 Experiments in Foreign Cotton : Mr. Shubrick's 
successful cultivation of the Egyptian variety. — But 

whilst the soil of the Madras (Chingleput) district was 
not adapted to the growth of Indian Cotton, it has been 
found very favourable to the American varieties. Gar- 
den experiments in general are not very reliable, inas- 
much as the plant receives far more care and attention 
under such circumstances than it can possibly receive 
from the Byot. Mr. Shubrick, the Collector, has been 
highly successful in raising Egyptian Cotton, which 
Proceedings received the approbation and thanks of the 
Revemie ° f Board of Revenue and Madras Chamber of 
13th April, Commerce. Unfortunately, Mr. Shubrick 
i860. returned to Europe whilst the experiment 

was still under trial, and his Cotton plantation seems 
to have been neglected, and consequently failed. Seed, 
however, was forwarded to the Collectors of Cuddapah, 
Bellary, Kurnool, Coimbatore, and Tinnevelly, for the 
purpose of carrying on the experiment in their re- 
spective districts. The trial proved a failure. It 
Mr Hudie seems probable, however, that the experi- 
ston's letter, ment might have stood a better chance of 
1861 ° Ct '' success had it been tried in the maritime 
districts, and on soil more nearly approach- 
ing to that of Madras. It has already been seen that 
Black soil is well adapted to the growth of Indian Cot- 
ton, but not to the growth of American ; but even in 
Tinnevelly, the seeds obtained from Mr. Shubrick were 
planted in Black land. On the other hand, the Col- 
lector of the maritime district of Ganjam has expressed 
an opinion, that Egyptian Cotton might be grown to a 
great extent in his Collect orate within an easy distance 
of the coast. 

299 Experimental culture of the Brazil or Pemambuco 
variety by Dr, KTudge. — An equally interesting ex- 
periment has been tried in Madras, with reference to 
the Brazil or Pernambuco Cotton, by Dr. Mudge, 
Surgeon Major in the Madras Army. The following 
Letter from concise account of this experiment, and of 
23rdjan Se ' some others with Egypti an and Bourbon seed, 
18G2. '* has been kindly furnished by Dr. Mudge. 



1853-62.] 



CAENATIC : EIGHT DISTEICTS. 



201 



i " I first tried the Brazil or Pernambuco Cotton in 
i 1860. The Honourable D. Arbuthnot, Collector of 
Kurnool, gave me 12 seeds, from which 11 plants came 
i up. These were planted out about the 25th March, in 
■ common garden soil, with a small quantity of old ma- 
nure ; and were at first watered every day, or every 
i other day, till they had attained about a foot in height, 
j I then left Madras for the ISTeilgherries, and did not 
i return till the end of May. I found that the gardeners 
i had neglected the trees, and that four out of the eleven 
s were dead. The remaining seven prospered, and with- 
I out any care, and with only an occasional watering, 
; produced abundantly. In January and February they 
yielded more than two pounds of picked Cotton. This 
i Cotton was valued by London Brokers at from S^d. to 
, 9^. per lb. A large quantity of seed was obtained, 
, which was sown again in March and April — several 
hundred plants in the People's Park and about two 
hundred in my own garden, whilst a good deal of seed 
was also distributed to various parties. At this time 
(January, 1862) the plants in my garden are in full 
bearing, and the crop promises well. The trees planted 
in the People's Park have failed, evidently owing to the 
very saline character of the soil. I hear that some 
planted in Coorg are thriving. It appears likely that 
this species will grow well in light Beddish soil, if 
allowed sufficient space, and will be found productive. 
Mr. Pischer of Salem informed me that it did not an- 
swer there, probably owing to the greater dryness of 
the air and the different character of the soil. 

" Egyptian and Bourbon seed were sown in the Peo- 
ple's Park between the 1st and 4th April, 1861, and 
were watered till the plants attained the height of one 
foot ; after that they only got a little water occasion^ 
ally. The earth round the roots was loosened once or 
twice. Both these species have borne very well. Cot- 
ton was first picked in August, and the plants have 
gone on bearing up to the present time. A large 
quantity of Cotton has been thus obtained from them. 

" In preparing the soil a small country plough was 
used ; the greater part of the weeds and coarse grass 



202 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. YI, 



were picked out and removed, whilst the rest was turned 
into the furrows and left. The Cotton was sown in 
small circular holes. 

" The exact quantity of Cotton obtained from these 
plants is not yet known, but it has been very consider- 
able; and, so far as reliance can be placed on one 
experiment, seems to show that Bourbon aud Egyptian 
staples will answer well at the Presidency."* 

300 (8) North Arcot: Red soil, and consequently no 

Indian Cotton. — This district produces but 

Mr. Room- . . -. -. , % T n . 

son's letter, a very inconsiderable amount oi indigenous 
1861 1)eC ' , Cotton ; the average cultivation during the 
last five years being only fifty-seven acres. 
The absence of the Black clay, which Native producers 
consider to be the soil best adapted to the growth of 
Native Cotton, is the probable cause of the smallness 
of the cultivation. The Collector describes the soil of 
the district as being a Red gravel ; and it may be added 
that this appears to be the very soil which experience 
proves to be the best adapted to the American varieties. 

301 (4) South Arcot : inconsiderable quantity of Indian 
Cotton. — The Indigenous Cotton grown in this district 
is larger than in North Arcot, but is still inconsider- 
able. The cultivation is confined to two or three thou- 
sand acres. The Collector states that he has no observ- 
ations to offer on the subject. 

302 (5) Trichinopoly : quantity of Cotton inconsider- 
able: mode of cultivation. — In this district about 
Mr. McDcn- 6000 acres of Black soil are sown every 
silt M^y ers ' y ear witn Indigenous Cotton. Most of the 
i86i 5 andi5th "Cotton grown is consumed within the dis- 
Feb., 1862. trict, but a small quantity is exported in the 
shape of twist. The rates proposed by Mr. Newill in 
carrying out the new Revenue Settlement, are ex- 
pected to promote the extension of the cultivation, 
as they are considerably lower than the present rate 
of Assessment. " Cotton, however," we are told, " re- 
quires more care, labour, and consequently more ex- 
pense, than almost any other description of crop ; and 

* The Bourbon seed was sent to me by the Rev. "W. Taylor of 
Madras, and was raised in his garden. 



1853-62.] CAKFATIC: EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



203 



unless there is the inducement of soon realizing a re- 
munerative price, the Ryot will choose any other kind 
of cultivation in preference." Mr. McDonnell also 
drew attention to the report on the Cotton cultivation 
in Trichinopoly, drawn up by Mr. Travers, the Col- 
lector, in 1812. The following extract, relative to the 
mode of cultivation, is worthy of record. " The ground 
is first ploughed up. Afterwards a herd of cattle, or a 
flock of sheep, is kept on the land for two or three days 
to manure it. The ground is then again ploughed 
three times more ; and the seed, which has been dipped 
in a preparation made of buffaloes' dung, salt water, 
and ashes, is then sown, and the ground again lightly 
turned up to cover the seed. When the plant has 
reached the height of one span, the earth is carefully 
and very lightly ploughed up between the plants, and 
the grass that has grown is removed. After this, as 
occasion may require, the weeds and grass are continued 
to be rooted up until the plants have reached maturity, 
when the Cotton is plucked." 

(6) Tanjore : Soil not favourable without irriga- 303 
tion, and with irrigation the cultivation of rice is 
preferred. — The quantity of -Cotton grown Mr. Cadeii's 
in this district falls far short of even the letter, 5th 
requirements of local consumption, and ac- Dec '' 1861, 
cordingly large quantities are brought from the south- 
ern districts of Madura and Tinnevelly Mr Cadell > s 
to meet the deficiency. Repeated attempts letter, 3ist 
have been made to improve the quality of Jan -' 1862 - 
the Cotton grown, and to extend its cultivation, but 
they have hitherto proved unsuccessful ; Paras.m, 
and the land under Cotton crop is at the 256 - 
present time less than six hundred acres, being less 
than one-fourth of what it was ten years ago. Mr. 
Cadell, the Collector, ascribes these results to the un- 
remunerative nature of the crop, the uncertainty of the 
produce, and the labour and expense of preparation 
arising from the absence of any cheap and efficient 
machinery. He is also inclined to think that the soil of 
the district is not very favourable to the plants, unless 
it can be irrigated ; and when the means of artificial 



204 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. YI. 



irrigation can be commanded, the landholders prefer 
the cultivation of rice to the exclusion of almost every 
other article. 

304 (7) Madura : detailed report from the Collector. — 

Madura is a Cotton-growing district, though not one 
of the four great Cotton districts of the Presidency. 
The average number of acres under this cultivation dur- 
ing the last three years is about 76,000 acres. The fol- 
lowing information respecting the culture was supplied 
three or four years back by Mr. Hathaway, the Col- 
Mr Hatha ^ ec ^ or °f Madura, in answer to an applica- 
way's letter, tion for certain data connected with the 
i858 June> growth of the Indian plant, which had been 
forwarded to the late Court of Directors by 
Dr. Mallet, Professor of Chemistry in the University of 
Alabama, U.S. 

305 Soil. — " The soil in which the Cotton is raised is 
Black, and of a slimy nature, being very retentive of 
the moisture ; and if the periodical rains commence in 
August and continue till January, this moisture will 
penetrate the earth to a depth of two feet and a 
half. By the commencement of January, the moist- 
ure is reduced to a depth of four inches, and disap- 
pears altogether by the 1st of March. In some parts 
the Byots raise along with Cotton the following dry 
crops — coriander, horse-gram, varagoo, cumboo; thenie, 
dholl, and cummin. These thrive if the periodical rains 
fall ; but many of the Ryots consider such a practice 
of mixed sowing prejudicial ; as Cotton itself cannot be 
grown two consecutive years in the same field. 

306 Geology and Topography. — "The district is not 
naturally well drained, depending as it does upon the 
freshes from the river and periodical rains, which are 
very uncertain in their supply. The soil is generally 
of an inferior description, being based in many places 
upon rocks of black and white marble and granite, and 
masses of gravel, which rise to within from one and a 
half to five yards of the surface. It is also impregnated 
with saltpetre. The height above the level of the sea 
of that portion of the district in which Cotton is raised, 
ranges from six to seven hundred feet. 



1853-62.] 



CAKNATIC: EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



205 



Climate. — " The regular kalum rains commence in 
August and terminate in November ; while the koday 
rain falls in March and April. The year 1858, how- 
ever, proved an exception, as during the month of May 
there was an average fall of more than nine inches in 
fifteen days. The annexed statement shows the amount 
of rain that fell during the last official year. 



307 



MEA. IN. T. 



Madacolum 

Tiroomangalum 

Meylore 

Tandicomboo 

Izempully 

Tenkurray 

Nellacottah 



71 

45 
65 



54 
18 
67 



66 



Seed used and whence obtained. — " After the fibre 308 
has been removed, the seed is preserved till within a 
few days of the sowing season. It is then soaked for 
two or three minutes in water in which cow-dung has 
been steeped, and then pressed by hands on a floor ex- 
posed to the sun, with a view to remove any particles 
of the fibre, and thus to ensure the separate deposition 
on the ground of each seed, which takes place three days 
afterwards. In some instances, under the impression 
that such a process will render the Cotton white and 
smooth, the Eyots mix with the said water, chunam, 
butter-milk, or salt ; but I have no information that 
any such result is obtained. 

Character of the Cotton Plant.—" The Cotton of this 309 
district is herbaceous in character, growing to an aver- 
age height of 3^- feet. The branches extend about If 
feet from the stems, which grow at an average distance 
from each other of H feet. The main root shoots 
downwards to a depth of 1^ feet ; whilst the lateral 
roots spread out about of a foot. 

Mode of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of 310 
Cotton wool per acre. — " The fields intended for this 
cultivation are usually ploughed seven times, at the 
least four times, between May and September. In the 



206 COTTON IN" THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. YI. 



latter month, ten days previous to the sowing of the 
seed, the soil is manured, either through penning cattle 
on it, or by the imposition of manure, and then once 
more ploughed. The seed is scattered from the 20th 
October to the 10th December, the early period being 
the most advantageous, so as to let the seeds fall at an 
average distance from each other of 1^- feet. Trans- 
plantation is not adopted. The plants require at the 
stages of their budding and flowering, harrowing and 
weeding ; the cost of this is estimated at Rupees 3^, or 
7s. per acre. The buds generally form about the 15th 
January, and the picking of the crop takes place in 
March and April. Tor this operation the labourer re- 
ceives remuneration in kind, at rates which vary accord- 
ing to mutual agreement from one-fourth to one-tenth 
of the out-turn. The weight of Cotton wool produced 
per acre in this year 1857-58 (which from the drought 
has been an unfavourable one) is estimated at 23^ lbs. 
Each hand employed is supposed to be able to give 
4| lbs. a day ; machines of an ordinary description 
being used for the purpose. 

311 Manure. — " Although Cotton seed may return to the 
ground, manure is still used, and the stalks are removed 
to serve as fuel. 

312 Diseases. — "The plants are attacked by many dis- 
eases ; the principal of which are called Sambal or 
Sooroothy knoo, and are supposed to be caused by the 
prevalence of north winds and lightnings. The former 
disease gives the Cotton a pale tinge, while the latter 
causes the leaves of the plant to curl. They are also 
attacked by caterpillars and worms, whose correct 
names I am unable to obtain." 

313 (8) Tinnevelly: Mr. Mayne's detailed report. — 
Tinnevelly is one of the four principal Cotton growing 
Para 17 an( ^ ex P or ^ m g districts in the Madras Pre- 
sidency. The average cultivation of late 

years is about 190,000 acres. The principal port is 
Tuticorin. This district will be remembered as the 
Mr. Dawson scene of Mr. Finnie's experiments and la- 
ter "8th S let " Dours - ^ ne following interesting report, 
1858. ° v '' with reference to Professor Mallet's ap- 



1853-62.] CAE1STATIC : EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



207 



plication for information, was supplied by Mr. Dawson 
Mayne. 

Soil. — " Cotton is cultivated in all descriptions of 314 
soils found in this district, but more extensively in those 
known as the Caresal or Black Cotton soil ; secondly, 
in the Yeppel (a mixture of Black and Sandy soil) ; 
thirdly, in the Pottel (a stiff clayey soil) ; and fourthly, 
in the Shevel or Red soil. 

1st, The Caresal, or Black soil.—" The Black Cotton 315 
soil is of a loose friable nature, varying in depth from 
two to five or six feet. Soon after a heavy fall of rain, 
the upper surface of the soil, to a depth of about nine 
inches, becomes dry ; but the lower portion, to a depth 
of four or five feet, will retain moisture for four or 
five weeks. The other crops grown on this soil are 
cumboo, cholum (different sorts of maize) ; buller, 
Bengal gram, varagoo, red gram (species of vetch or 
pulse), raggy, theny, cootheerivaly, chendrookoo oil, 
and castor oil seeds, etc. The soil is considered ex- 
tremely fertile. 

2nd, The Veppel, or Black and Sandy soil.—" The 316 
Veppel, or Black and Sandy soil, partakes of the same 
nature as Black Cotton soil, varying in depth from two 
to four and a half feet. After a heavy fall of rain, the 
upper surface of this soil, to a depth of about six 
inches, soon becomes dry ; but the lower stratum, to a 
depth of three or four feet, will retain moisture for 
three or four weeks. The other crops grown on this 
soil are cumboo, raggy, cholum, buller, red gram, theny, 
and castor oil seeds, etc. This soil also is considered to 
be fertile, but in a less degree than that first named. 

3rd, The Pottel, or stiff clayey Soil.—" The Pottel 317 
soil is stiff and untractable. It varies in depth from 
one to three and a half feet. After a heavy fall of rain, 
the upper surface of this soil, to a depth of four inches, 
will soon become dry ; but the lower stratum, to a 
depth of three feet, will retain moisture for about two, 
or two and a half weeks. The other crops grown on 
this soil are cumboo, horse-gram, samay, varagoo, theny, 
and castor oil seeds, etc. This soil is not considered 
fertile. 



208 COTTON m THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. YI. 

318 4th, The Shevel, or Red Soil.—" The Shevel soil is 
of a loose "friable nature, varying in depth from one to 
three feet. After a heavy fall of rain, the upper sur- 
face of soil, to a depth of one foot, soon becomes dry ; 
but the lower portion, to a depth of one and a half or 
two feet, will retain moisture for one and a half or two 
weeks. The other crops grown on this soil are red 
gram, varagoo, castor oil seeds, theny, etc. This soil is 
not considered fertile. 

319 Geology and topography.—" The Cotton fields to- 
wards the west in this district are slightly undulating, 
with general slope to the eastward ; while to the east, 
the country lies almost flat, the plains sloping very 
gradually towards the sea. From observation taken 
with an Aneroid Barometer, it appears that the level 
of the former varies from 250 to 300 feet, and of the 
latter from 80 to 120 feet, above the sea. Below the 
above-mentioned soil, gravel of different descriptions, 
and kunkur, or decomposed gneiss, are met with ; and 
in some spots occasional strata of crystaline limestone 
crop up through the gneiss. The granite formation is 
chiefly found in the northern portion of the district, 
and is met with at various depths below the kunkur 
and gneiss. That which is termed " decomposed 
gneiss " may perhaps be a species of disintegrated rocks 
of a comparatively late formation. The northern part 
of this district is intersected by numerous small streams, 
and the Cotton fields are consequently well drained. 

320 Climate. — " During the dry months, or from January 
to September, the heat is excessive. During the south- 
west monsoon, there are occasional showers in the north 
of the district, especially in the more western portion of 
the Cotton fields. The north-east monsoon continues 
from the middle of October to January ; and during its 
prevalence, rain falls generally over the whole district. 
Irrigation is not employed for the growth of Cotton in 
this district. A return, showing the fall of rain from 
January to December, 1857, is given on the following 
page. Rain Grauges are kept at all the chief stations. 



1853-62.] CARNATIC : EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



209 



00 



Is 

>0 



Ho 



CO 

»5 



4 

CO 



■so 

8 



o 

&0 


Tenths. 


OJHOiOClOCONHOON 

r-^qsocooj^oeqcoocco 

NMCCgOOOCigilONHH 
CO rH JO CO * * cVl r-i 05 


j 


Avei 


Inches. 


^ Z | lOHpi J • loo CO • 






Tenths. 


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05 
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00 

■^ft 


Tol 


Inches. 


io : r-i r-i :tho<n : 

<M CO rH • 


CO 
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Section. 


Tenths. 


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CQ 00 O JO cq <N CO JO • O CO . 
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00 
rH 


Western 


Inches. 


<N • icOrHCM • • 'COCO • 
I-l 


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Section. 


Tenths. 


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oocoi£ii>Heo»owx(McqH 

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CO CO !>• 05 rH ^ Oi * 


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Eastern 


Inches. 


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Section. 


Tenths. 


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co ; >o co o oo qo 01 is o o : 

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rH rH <5Q CO JO * CO CO CO rH 


9 


Southern ! 






Inches. 


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Northern Section. 


Tenths. 


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OCOQOb-OlOHCOCOQOfMCO 
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Inches. 


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05 
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January 

July 

September ... 

October 

November ... 
December ... 


Total ... 



p 



210 COTTON IS THE MADBAS PEESIDENCT. [CHAP. VI. 

321 Seed used and whence obtained. — " Cotton seeds are 
obtained from those places in the district, where the 
previous crops had yielded a fall produce of good 
quality. The seeds are in the first instances exposed 
to the sun to dry. When sufficiently dried, it is the 
practice to put them into water mixed with buffaloes' 
dung, and then they are again dried, and the seeds are 
now considered ready to be sown in the proper season. 

322 Character of the Cotton plant. — " The Cotton plants 
in Tinnevelly are herbaceous ; tree Cotton is not grown 
here. The average height of the plant is 3f feet, and 
the spread of the branches is 1J feet. The average 
distance from plant to plant is about one foot. The 
average spread of roots is one foot in depth and six 
inches laterally. 

323 Mode of Cultivation, time of flowering, weight of 
Cotton wool per acre, &c, — " Cotton fields are plough- 
ed five times between the months of April and Septem- 
ber. After a good shower of rain, the seeds are sown 
generally between the months of September and Oc- 
tober. The distance at which the plants are placed 
apart is about one foot. The weeds are removed three 
times during the growth of the Cotton plant. The 
total amount of labour bestowed upon weeding may be 
valued at about Rupees li (3s.) per acre. The plants 
flower in the month of December or J anuary. Picking 
commences in February and ends with April. If after 
this any rain falls, a further picking takes place in 
June and July. The weight of Cotton fibre is to the 
product per acre about 86 lbs. ; weight per hand em- 
ployed is 6 lbs. 

324 Manure. — " There is not any Cotton seed returned to 
the soil in the form of manure, nor are the stalks al- 
lowed to decay on the field. The land under Cotton 
cultivation is manured with cattle dung. 

325 Diseases. — " When the Cotton plants come to bearing, 
they are subject to two kinds of diseases ; the first is 
called in Tamil " Sambulnoye," and the second " Can- 
joorumnoye." When the first-mentioned disease prevails, 
the yield becomes very indifferent ; and if the last- 
named disease exists, the pods drop off entirely. Un- 



1853-62.] 



CARNATIC : EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



211 



seasonable rains in summer, and lightnings, are said to 
be injurious to the Cotton plants, by causing the boles 
to drop off. Before flowers and pods appear, the plants 
are subject to the ravages of insects." 

Mr. Silver's Report. — In a letter dated 20th February, 326 
1862, Mr. Silver, the Collector of Tinne- Mr Silver , s 
velly, reported as follows. " The average letter, 20th 
quantity of uncleaned Cotton, grown in " Feb " 1862, 
the district of Tinnevelly during the last three years, 
was 150,000 candies, of 500 lbs. each. At the close of 
the past year 1860-61, there were about 44,000 candies 
of cleaned Cotton in this district, which is selling at 
102 Rs. (£10 4s.) per candy. There are no obstacles 
to the spread of Cotton cultivation, but a stimulus 
seems to be required ; and the cultivation would doubt- 
less be extended by the following means. 1st, By the 
Mercantile Firms establishing Agencies for dealing 
direct with the cultivators in the interior, instead of 
conducting this part of their business, as they do at 
present, through Brokers at the port of embarkation. 
2nd, By constructing better roads, which in my opinion 
would be the case, if the executive were again placed 
under the Revenue officers, the District Engineer in- 
specting and reporting on the nature of the work per- 
formed." 

Queries of Sir William Denison, with Mr. Silver's 327 
replies. — Mr. Silver also forwarded to the Madras 
Board of Revenue, a paper of answers which he had 
recently drawn up, in reply to certain queries furnished 
to him by His Excellency Sir "William Denison, Go- 
vernor of Madras, as regards the Cotton trade at the 
Port of Tuticorin. These queries, together with the 
replies, are appended in parallel columns. 

Queries. Eeplies. 

1st. Distance from Tinnevelly Thirty-four miles, 
to Tuticorin ? 

2nd. Character of the country Bare and open, passing over 
between the two places ? black soils, rocky ground, and 

deep sand ; there is a made road 
for only 8 miles out of Tinnevelly, 
r 2 



212 COTTOH Itf THE MADEAS PEESIDE^CY. [CHAP. VI, 



3rd. Amount of existing traffic 
between the two places ? 



4th. Cost of transport per ton 
and per bale of Cotton from one 
place to another ? 



5th. Quantity of Cotton pass- 
g from Tinnevelly to Tuti- 



conn 



6th. Quality of Cotton, whether 
of Native growth or improved 
varieties ? 



7th. "Weight of an 
bale of Cotton ? 



8th. Amount produced per 
acre in your district. State 
amount in two forms, firstly, 
quantity of Cotton seed ; second- 
ly, quantity of Cotton clean ? 



and the river Tambrapoorney, 
unbridged, intervenes. 

Tinnevelly is not a Cotton 
producing Taluk. Cotton is 
grown in the northern Taluks 
and north-eastern Taluks. Gene- 
ral commodities pass between the 
two places. 

Cost of transport per ton and 
for a bundle of Cotton depends 
entirely on the season of the 
year. If in rainy weather when 
the Ryots plough their fields 
transport becomes expensive, but 
on the average the transport of 
Cotton to Tuticorin from the 
Cotton producing Taluks costs 
10 rupees per ton of 20 cwt. 
or about 9 As. a bundle of 120 
lbs. 

Cotton is not sent from Tin- 
nevelly to Tuticorin. But the 
average quantity taken into Tuti- 
corin yearly from the Ottapi- 
darum, Sattur, Shenkarninarcoil, 
and Strivilliputtur Taluks, along 
the trunk Cotton road connecting 
the Cotton growing localities 
with Tuticorin, is 33,000 Candies 
of cleaned Cotton. 

Entirely of Native growth ; no 
other description is exported from 
Tuticorin. The quality is known 
in Europe as Tinnevelly Cotton ; 
it is clean in colour but short in 
staple, and generally fetches the 
highest price of Indian Indigen- 
ous Cotton. 

The average weight of a bundle 
that comes from the district to 
Tuticorin is 120 lbs. Cotton 
coming from the interior is pack- 
ed in bundles, never in bales. 

lstly. The highest quantity of 
seed produced per acre is } Candy, 
equal to 15 Madras Maunds, and 
the lowest 5~ Maunds. 

2ndly. The highest quantity 
of cleaned Cotton per acre is ~ 
Candy, or 5 Madras Maunds, and 
the lowest If Maund. 



1853-62.] CAKFATIC : EIGHT DISTRICTS. 213 



9th. Whether the soil of your 
district is of the black adhesive 
kind known as Cotton soil ? 



10th. Send a small quantity 
(4 or 5 lbs.) to Madras for analy- 
sis as soon as possible ? 



11th. Price of Cotton on board 
ship ? 



12th. Price given to cultiv- 
ator ? 



13th. Average number of acres 
cultivated with Cotton by one 
( individual in your district ? 
t 14th. Maximum number cul- 
tivated with Cotton by one in- 
dividual. 

15th. Quantity of Cotton ex- 
( ported from Tuticorin ? 

i 

i 16th. Is any extension of cul- 

1 tivation of Cotton likely to take 
place in your district were a 
stimulus given to the growth of 
Cotton by a considerable rise in 

' its price, or by any other means ? 

1 17th. Quantity of Cotton 

1 grown in your District ? 

18th. What is the total num- 
ber of acres available for Cotton 
cultivation in this district ? 

19th. Do Capitalists make 
advances to Eyots engaged in 
Cotton cultivation ? 



Cotton is cultivated in this 
district on four descriptions of 
soils, viz., first, Karisel, or black 
soil ; second, Veppel, a mixture 
of black and sandy soil; third, 
Pottel, or stiff clay soil; and 
fourth, Shevel, or red soil ; but 
more extensively on black Cotton 
soil. 

Five pounds of each of the 
first three descriptions of soils 
will be forwarded to the Chem- 
ical Examiner at Madras for 
analysis. 

The price of Cotton on board 
ship varies considerably accord- 
ing to the state of the market, 
but on the average has been 89 
Eupees per Candy of 500 lbs. net 
weight during the last four years. 

The price given to cultivator 
per Candy of uncleaned Cotton 
with seed, ranges from Eupees 
14-12-3 to Eupees 20-15-0. 

Seven acres. 



Sixty acres. 

Quantity exported from Tuti- 
corin in Fasly 1270, from 1st 
July, 1860 to 30th June, 1861, 
was 30,667 Candies. 

If there was a considerable 
rise in the price of Cotton, the 
cultivation would doubtless be 
extended. I do not see a better 
stimulus than this. 

The average quantity grown 
yearly in the last three years was 
150,000 Candies ; this is Cotton 
not cleaned. 

207,850 acres. 



The Merchants and Agents 
make large advances to the 
Brokers, Dealers, and Nattoo- 
kottay Chetties equal to three- 



4 



214 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. TI. 

quarters of the value of Cotton 
contracted for, and the latter 
again make advances to the 
Eyots engaged in Cotton cultiv- 
ation. 

20th. What is done -with the A portion of the surplus Cot- 
surplus Cotton seed ? ton seed is used as food for cattle, 

some is exported to Colombo. 

328 Letter from Mr. Hardy, European Agent at Tuti- 
corin. — The following letter, received from Mr. Thomas 
Mr. Hardy's Hardy, at Tnticorin, furnishes the follow- 
letter, ioth mg particulars respecting the Cotton trade 

Nov., 1861. f Tinneve lly. 

" The average exports of Cotton for the last 10 years 
from this district have been about bales 55,000, but 
this year it may probably reach 90,000 : one season 
during this decennial period it reached only bales 16,000, 
the crop being nearly a total failure. During the first 
half of these ten years, the price rarely exceeded Eupees 
60 per Candy of 500 lbs. ; but during the last five 
years the price has rarely been less than Eupees 80, and 
is now Eupees 100 ; which latter price will require at 
the present rates of freight and exchange, about 7d. per 
lb. at home to cover cost, charges, and commission. I 
have no doubt the present high price will cause a much 
greater quantity of land to be brought under Cotton 
cultivation, but not to the extent in this district as 
might be expected, for all agricultural produce has 
risen in value more than Cotton. At the same time 
Cotton is a very favourite cultivation with the Eyots. 
It gives them fuel, and the seed is the best and most 
fattening food for their cattle. The quality of Cotton 
produced here is second to no Indigenous Cotton grown 
in India (excepting the Dharwar saw-ginned) ; it is of 
good colour, but the staple is short, and the Eyots 
adulterate it with seed and trash. If such was not 
the case it would rank higher in Europe. Nearly the 
whole of the Cotton grown here went formerly to 
China, but it now almost entirely goes to London and 
Liverpool, but the bulk is re-exported principally to 
Northern Europe. Cotton is here planted in rather a 
slovenly manner broad cast, and two crops are taken 



1853-62.] CENTRAL TABLE-LAND : FIVE DISTRICTS. 215 



during the year, one in February and one in June. 

i Cotton is planted in the month of October and Novem- 

3 ber, and deliveries begin to take place in April. Cot- 
ton is all bought on contract for delivery under heavy 
advances to the sellers, viz., about three-fourth of its 

, value, and for delivery in periods varying from two to 
four months." In a subsequent letter, Mr. Hardy 
says, — " I do not think that saw gins will be introduced 
in Tinnevelly, for the staple of the Tinnevelly Cotton 

1 is shorter than that of Dharwar." 

3rd, Central Table-land : five Districts —This large 329 
territory between the "Western and Eastern Grhauts 
slopes away from west to east, and from south to 

, north ; that is, from the great western chain of moun- 

\ tains to what might be called the eastern hills ; and 
from the southern territory of Mysore, which has a 

j mean elevation of 3000 feet, to the northern districts 
of Bellary and Cuddapah, where the mean elevation 
is 1600 feet. It embraces five districts, viz. — (1) 

j Bellary, (2) Kurnool, (3) Cuddapah, (4) Salem, (5) 
Coimbatore. 

(1) Bellary : detailed report from the Collector. — 330 

I "Bellary is one of the largest Cot ton-gro wing Mr Hatha 
districts in the Madras Presidency. The way's letter, 

1 Collector reports that nearly 600,000 acres ^th June, 
are available for the cultivation, and of 
these nearly half w r ere planted with Cotton during the 
season of 1860-61. The land is tolerably accessible 
to the ordinary country carts at all times, save during 

' the rainy weather. A sufficient quantity of Cotton is 
obtained for consumption within the district, and a 
large quantity is exported to Madras, Bangalore, Wal- 

j lajapet, and Coomptah. These lines of communication, 
with the exception of the one to Coomptah, appear to be 

j in good order." The following extracts from a detailed 
report furnished by Mr. Pelly, the Collector, in reply 
to Professor Mallet's application, are worthy of record. 
Soil. — " Attempts have at different times been made 331 

( to introduce the cultivation in this district Mr p e u y > s 
of the American Cotton ; but the experiments letter, 7th 
have generally failed. The Cotton grown Ma ^ 1858 ^ 



216 COTTON IN THE MADBAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. TI. 

throughout this district, viz., ' White Cotton,' is of 
but one kind. This Cotton is grown in the Black or 
Begud lands, dependent entirely on the rain ; it is not 
usual to water Cotton by artificial means. It is cus- 
tomary to cultivate Cotton in every third year, leaving 
the land in the two intermediate years for the growth 
of Cholum (dry grain) crops. Before the rainy season 
sets in, the land is prepared and kept ready for sowing, 
by ploughing it twice with the implement called 6 Chin- 
na Groontaka,' a large hoe drawn by four bullocks. The 
Begud, or Black lands, of this district generally retain 
their moisture at a depth of half a yard under the sur- 
face. When sufficient rain has fallen to soak the upper 
surface to a depth of half a yard, and so to connect it 
with the under moist soil, it is considered that the land 
has received a sufficient supply, and Cotton is accord- 
ingly sown in it. After the sowing, if rain falls at any 
time within a month, it is of much benefit to the crop ; 
but the crop is not dependent on this second fall, if the. 
ground has been previously fully moistened. Cotton 
is sown by itself or with corraloo : two rows of the lat- 
ter grain are sown for every one row of Cotton. Cotton 
sown by itself, is sown generally about fifteen days 
later than the sowing of Cotton mixed with corraloo. 
The land is liable to be overgrown with grass if not 
kept down; but weeds do not abound generally. 
332 Geology and Topography. — " The dry lands of this 
district may be classed into three sorts : — 1st, Black ; 
2nd, Mixture of Black and Eed ; 3rd, Bed. The soil 
of the southern Talooks is generally of the two latter 
descriptions, and that of the western Talooks is of the 
first and second descriptions. The other Talooks are 
entirely Black land. Much of the irrigated land is 
Black, and a portion is mixed with sand, like the second 
description of dry land, or with salt land. The Black 
and Mixed soils are free from any rocks or stones, but 
the Bed land is intermixed with stones and gravels. 
This Bed land is not fertile soil. When it is cultivated 
continually for three years, it becomes unfit for cultiva- 
tion, and must lie fallow for five or six years. White 
gravel is found at two yards below the ground in Black 



1853-62.] CEKTEAL TABLE-LAND : TIYE DISTRICTS. 217 

lands, and Bed gravel is found at about half to one 
yard below the ground in the other two descriptions of 
soil. The distance to this district from the eastern 
coast is about 300 miles, and from the western coast 
200 miles ; and its situation is about 1500 feet above 
the level of the sea, and is naturally well drained. 

Climate. — " In this inland district the rain-fall is 333 
very small, generally about 20 to 30 inches at most, 
and the climate is very dry. The seasons for rain are 
from May to August, and secondly from September to 
the 15th November. The quantity of rain that fell 
during the last five years is shown in the foot note. # 
The Cotton lands are entirely dependent upon the fall 
of rain, as irrigation is not employed. 

Seed used and whence obtained. — " The kind of seed 334 
used, is that of the Cotton grown in this district. 

Nature and character of the Cotton. — " The Cotton 335 
of this district is of the herbaceous character, or small 
shrubs. The height of the plant varies from two and a 
half to one and a half feet. Its branches are spread 
over a foot, and the seed sown is two or three inches 
apart in the same row, but between each row a space 
of about one foot and a half is left. "When Cotton and 
corraloo are sown together, one row of Cotton is planted 
for every two rows of corraloo, and a space of about 
two feet is left between each line. The corraloo is 
harvested earlier than the Cotton, which comes to ma- 
turity a month afterwards. In the best lands, the root 
spreads one to one and a half feet in depth ; but in 
ordinary land not deeper than one foot or even less ; 
laterally it does not spread more than from three to 
four inches. 

Method of cultivation, time of flowering', and 336 
weight of Cotton wool per acre, &c. — "As already 



* Early rains. Later rains. 

Inches. Inches. 

1852- 53 . . . . 7*5 21-3 

1853- 54 . . . . 7-1 2-3 

1854- 55 . . ..5 1 10-9 

1855- 56 . . . . 2 3 15 3 

1856- 57 . . . . 14- . . . . . . 6-4 



218 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. TI. 

stated, the Kegud or Black land, previously made 
ready for cultivation, is, upon a seasonable fall of rain, 
sown through bamboo tubes with an implement called 
Gooroo (Drill plough), containing three teeth, and 
drawn by a pair of bullocks, But in sowing Cotton 
and corraloo together, the former is sown in the drill 
made by the middle tooth of the drill, and the corraloo 
on either side ; making one row of Cotton for every 
two lines of corraloo. When Cotton is sown alone, the 
middle drill is left unfilled, and the two outer ones are 
alone sown. The usual time for the cultivation of Cot- 
ton with corraloo is about the month of September, and 
for Cotton alone about fifteen or twenty days after- 
wards. The plants are two or three inches apart in 
the same row ; but the rows are, as before said, one 
and a half to two feet from each other. The amount 
of labour bestowed upon weeding during growing time 
is as follows. "When the Cotton and corraloo crops are 
of one month's growth, two implements (Hoes) called 
6 Tadagoontakah,' drawn with a bullock and a driver 
each, are employed for weeding on two occasions, once 
in twelve days. After this has been done, another de- 
scription of implement, called 6 Juntalagoontakah,' 
three in number, with a pair of bullocks and three 
drivers, is employed on two occasions once in ten days. 
The extent of land which may be weeded from nine 
o'clock in the morning up to the evening would not be 
more than four acres ; and the amount of labour be- 
stowed upon weeding four times the above quantity of 
land may be estimated at Bupees 2^, or 4s. 6d. But 
where Cotton alone is sown without corraloo, the weed 
is hoed after one month's growth of the crop, twice at 
twelve days' interval, by the £ Pillagoontaka,' with a 
pair of bullocks and two drivers, at a cost of eight an- 
nas per day, or one rupee for the two occasions they 
are employed. The average extent of land weeded in a 
day is four acres. The flowering time is generally two 
months after sowing, and the crop comes to maturity 
three months after flowering or five months after sow- 
ing. The Cotton is picked on three occasions in the 
month. It is in the second time that the largest quan- 



1853-62.] CENTRAL TABLE-LAND : FIVE DISTRICTS. 219 

tity of Cotton is picked. On the whole, the average 
quantity of Cotton produced per acre may be estimated 
at 15 maunds (375 lbs.) ; and, deducting one-third or 
five maunds for the remuneration of persons employed 
in picking, the net quantity remaining for the culti- 
vator would be 10 maunds, which will produce 2\ 
maunds of Cotton wool. On an average, one man is 
required to clean one maund of Cotton in a day, at the 
rate of one anna per maund. 

Manure. — " Manure is never used ; the seed is not 337 
returned to the ground until the land is sown again. 
After the picking is over, the stalks are cut down and 
gathered, and do not decay on the field. 

Diseases. — " The Cotton crop is free from the ravages 338 
of insects ; but when the north-east wind blows, the 
plant is subject to blight of three kinds, called £ Mujjega,' 
£ Mussy,' and ' Barigi.' By the first kind, the leaves 
of the plant become white ; by the second, the tender 
as well as other leaves turn black and wither away 
soon ; and by the last, the leaves, &c, become spotted 
and destroyed. But if the south-east wind blows, and 
the sun is bright, it will recover." 

(2) Kurnool: a Cotton-growing District. — "Kurnool 339 
is a Cotton-growing district, having about 250,000 
acres under cultivation. It carries on a Mr Min 
small export trade through Cuddapah to chin's letter, 
Madras. Mr. Minchin, the Collector, is of f^ eh " 
opinion that the sole obstacle to the in- 
creased production of the article, consists in its great 
bulk as compared with its value : — the cost of transit 
to Madras, and consequent low price which the trader 
can afford to pay to the producer as compared with 
other staples of production. 

Cost of transit : the sole obstacle to increased pro- 340 
duction. — " The average cost of a bandy from the Cot- 
ton-producing Talook of Pattikondu to Madras is Eu- 
pees 30, or 60s. ; and as one-third of a ton is the great- 
est load that is ever placed on a cart or bandy at the 
most favourable season of the year, ninety Rupees, or 
£9 per ton of the price obtainable at Madras, has to be 
deducted for the cost of transit. The Cotton itself is 



220 COTTON IN THE MADE AS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. VI. 



of a most worthless description, and its intrinsic value 
is not therefore sufficient to enable it to bear a costly 
land carriage. I am not myself of opinion that the staple 
is likely to be improved in any way by Native agri- 
culturists. The modes of cultivation, picking, and pre- 
paration, are all too slovenly to permit any reasonable 
hope of material improvement being effected by un- 
taught Native efforts, even should the Ryots be willing 
to make any efforts of the kind. There is no doubt, 
however, that when the ordinary Cotton of this coun- 
try reaches a price sufficient to pay the cost of the 
expensive land journey to the coast, it can be produced 
in this district to a large extent, and the limit to its 
cultivation is simply its proportionate remuneration 
to the producer, as compared with that of grains. It 
appears certain, therefore, that the completion of the 
canal to Madras, and the cheap means of communica- 
tion that will then be offered, will enable traders to 
pay a much larger price. for the ordinary Cotton of this 
district than they can now afford to do ; and should 
the present demand for the article continue, its pro- 
duction in this part of the country will be increased. 

341 Improvements in the quality must be effected by 
the Merchants themselves. — " Should the exigencies of 
the English market induce English capitalists to settle 
in the district, under their guidance some improvement 
would doubtless be effected in the picking and prepara- 
tion of the article. I doubt, however, the practicability 
of any real improvement being made in the staple ; and 
believe that if England looks to India for her Cotton 
supply, our manufacturers must learn to make use of the 
present inferior description, which alone the country 
appears capable of producing." 

342 (3) Cuddapah : present state of Cotton as reported 
by Mr. Wedderburn, the Collector. — Cuddapah is also 
a Cotton-growing district, about 50,000 acres being 
Mr Wedder un ^ er this cultivation. Mr. Wedderburn, 
burn's letter] the Collector, reports as follows. " The 
i86i. Apri1, out-turn of this district last year was calcu- 
lated at more than two millions of lbs., 

valued at 3±d. per lb. upon the spot, or about £30,000, 



1853-62.] CENTRAL TABLE-LAND : FIVE DISTRICTS. 221 



the greater part of which is exported. This Cotton, 
though short in staple, is of a fair quality ; but it is 
liable to deterioration from careless picking and pack- 
ing. It is not properly cleaned, and when gathered it 
is packed loosely in bags which do not exclude the dust. 
Were some mercantile firm to purchase direct from the 
grower, and to superintend or insist on greater care in 
the gathering, and to establish a screw press on the 
spot to screw the bales ready for shipment in this dry 
climate, instead of that process being performed in the 
damp air of the sea- coast, I believe that the value of 
this Cotton in the home market would be enhanced, 
and the cost of carriage reduced. Piner qualities than 
the Indigenous Cotton could only be produced by a 
local demand and good prices." In a sub- 
sequent letter Mr. Wedderburn stated that MrXieUer" 
the extension of the cultivation depended ^|g^ 0ct '' 
upon the profit to be derived from the ex- 
portation of Cotton as compared with the exportation 
of other grain products. That Government could do 
nothing that would prove of advantage, beyond add- 
ing a few bridges to a road, and thus facilitating 
the export, and cheapening the cost of transit. Above 
all, that the people would not be induced to grow 
any kind of Cotton but their own stunted Indigen- 
ous variety ; all previous experiments with foreign 
seed having proved failures, excepting perhaps in gar- 
dens and favoured localities ; whilst the commercial 
value of other crops grown on irrigated lands rendered 
it impossible that Cotton should be grown at a profit 
on any but dry lands. Private individuals must take 
the risk and profit of introducing a better system of 
cultivation, if there be one ; and of dealing directly for 
the raw produce, which is much deteriorated in picking, 
cleaning, packing, and transit. 

Detailed report by Mr. Murray, the previous Col- 343 
lector. — The following report, drawn up in Mr. Murray's 
1858 in reply to Professor Mallett's applica- letter, 1st 
tion, conveys still more particular in forma- J ' 
tion respecting the Cotton cultivation in the district 
of Cuddapah. 



222 COTTOtf IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. VI. 

344 Soil. — " Cotton is chiefly grown in the Western portion 
of the Cuddapah district, in land commonly designated 
6 Eagada ' or Black Cotton soil, which is very tenacious 
of moisture and is almost impassable in the monsoon. 
During the dry weather, the whole surface of the 
ground is broken up by the deep fissures caused by the 
drought, but is filled up during the rains. The soil is 
very fertile in almost every part of the district, though 
there are some exceptions ; and upon it, various kinds 
of cereals, pulse, oil seeds, and indigo are grown, which, 
when sown on land which are properly taken care of 
and manured, produce large returns. 

345 Weeds. — " Black Cotton land, if not annually 
ploughed, but left waste for several years, very soon 
becomes clogged by an Indigenous plant called Nut- 
grass, which penetrates into the ground from three- 
fourths to one yard deep, and the herbage spreads 
along the surface of the field ; and should a Ryot 
wish to cultivate this waste land, he will require to 
yoke six or eight pairs of large heavy bullocks to his 
plough to force it through the roots, which also require 
to be extirpated by manual labour with the aid of pick- 
axes. There is also an Indigenous plant with a root 
something resembling a Potato, commonly called by 
the Natives ' Kudunchy ; ' the root varies from the 
size of a small to a large Potato, is excessively bitter, 
and cannot be eaten, and from it springs a species of 
vine, which runs along the ground and produces a yel- 
low flower, and a fruit of the size of a small green chilly, 
which is gathered by the Natives and used as food. I 
have never seen this root in any other except in the 
Black land. A species of wild Hyacinth is also very 
common ; several other kinds of weeds common to 
other soils are also produced upon Black soil. 

346 Geology and Topography. — " The Black Cotton soil 
rests chiefly upon sand, kunkur, or lime. When ex- 
cavations are made for the purpose of obtaining water, 
it is found to extend 20 or 30 feet ; and when resting 
upon the lime, the water found is brackish and unfit 
for domestic purposes ; when resting upon sand, the 
water is generally sweet. The soil may be stated to 



1853-62.] CENTKAL TABLE-LAND : EIYE DISTRICTS. 223 

range from two yards to 30 or 40 feet deep. The dis- 
trict of Cuddapah is very mountainous. The Black 
Cotton soil commences at a short distance from Cudda- 
pah, and runs westward on the east side of the Nulla- 
malah range on through the Bellary district. The 
plains are undulating and naturally well drained ; the 
drainage empties itself into small rivers, which again 
discharge themselves chiefly into the Paupugny and 
the Pennar rivers. One of these small rivers, called the 
Khoondoo, which is fed by the drainage from the Black 
lands, is, in the hot weather, so brackish as to be unfit 
for household purposes or irrigation. And in some 
places the soil is so impregnated with salt that the lat- 
ter can be obtained by gathering it off the surface of 
the land. This salt is required for agricultural stock, 
and cannot be dispensed with. In the river beds, a 
species of slate containing Pyrites of iron is procured, 
which is used both in building and flooring houses. 
The height above the level of the sea may be stated to 
range from 2000 to 2300 feet in this province. 

Climate. — " The climate in the hot weather is very 347 
hot ; and the Black soil becoming thoroughly heated, 
retains it until it is cooled down by the rains. Slight 
showers may be generally expected in May, June, and 
July, which enables the land to be ploughed, and in some 
places sown ; but the chief rains fall in September and 
October, when Jonna and Cotton seeds are sown ; the 
former is cut in February and the latter gathered in 
March and April. For the Indigenous Cotton, irriga- 
tion is never used. A moderately dry season is the 
most favourable for the plant. Supposing that the 
land is thoroughly saturated with rain at the time of 
sowing, and another heavy shower is received about 
six weeks or two months later, it is sufficient to bring 
the Cotton plant to maturity. Succeeding rains tend 
to the growth of the plant, but to the decrease of the 
produce. The Byots inform me that if the plants were 
irrigated they would yield only one-fourth of the return 
produced in a dry season. The average quantity of 
rain in the provinces, where Black Cotton soil is chiefly 
to be found, may be set down at Inches 22 914583, the 
average of the last three years. 



224 COTTON IN THE MADEAS PEESIDENCT. [CHAP. TI. 

348 Seed used and whence obtained. — " The seed used 
for sowing is obtained from the neighbouring villages. 
The general use made of Cotton seeds by the Culti- 
vators is to feed their cattle ; for which purpose they 
are most excellent. 

349 Character of the Cotton plant. — " The Cotton plant 
grown in this part of the country is herbaceous. The 
Cotton tree grows in the jungles, but the produce is of 
no use in manufactures, the staple being too short. 
American and other Cottons have been tried in this 
district, but have hitherto failed. The Cotton plant is 
very hardy, provided it does not receive too much rain 
at the time of sowing. It is a herbaceous plant, which 
rises to the height of about 3 feet, and extends its 
branches about 18 inches. The seeds are sown about 
a foot apart from each other in regular rows, and not 
unfreguently, horse-gram is sown between the plants. 
The root of the Cotton plant shoots down perpendi- 
cularly to the distance of eight inches, and the plant 
is dependent upon one tap root, from which others 
diverge. Should this be destroyed, the plant dies. 

350 Mode of cultivation, time oi flowering, weight of 
Cotton wool per acre, etc. — " The land having been pre- 
viously prepared, the seeds are sown in drills in the month 
of September, about twelve inches from each other. The 
night prior to sowing, they are saturated in a solution of 
fresh cow-dung and water ; they germinate on the fourth 
day. After attaining a height of eight or twelve inches, 
labourers are employed in clearing away the weeds, 
and often in sowing grain between the plants. After 
the lands have been thoroughly cleared, and when the 
hot weather is approaching, the plough is run through 
the drills, and the roots of the plant are banked up. 
The plant commences to flower about the fourth month, 
that is, about January and February, as the time of 
sowing may be ; and the produce is gathered in the 
months of March and April. There are four pickings ; 
the first and the fourth are the least, and the second 
and third the most productive. The average produce 
per acre may be stated to be eight maunds, or 200 lbs., 
and the ginned Cotton 50 lbs. 

351 Manure. — " Manure is not in general used for grow- 



1853-62.] CENTEAL TABLE-LAND : FIVE DISTRICTS. 225 



| ing Cotton. It is made use of when Jonna is sown, 
which is much more remunerative ; and as Jonna ought 

. not to be grown two successive years on the same land, 
Cotton is substituted. The Cotton stalks are cut and 
used as fuel ; sometimes they are placed with earth over 

] them, as a protection to walls [of houses] from the mon- 

( soon rains. 

Diseases. — " Cotton plants when weakened by un- 352 
seasonable rains, suffer from the effects of a mildew, 
I which covers the green leaf with white spots, and then 
i the plant being thus weakened is speedily attacked by 
i insects, grasshoppers, etc., and destroyed. Another 
i species of blight causes honey dew to exude from the 
j plant, which greatly weakens it. In January, should 
] there be cloudy weather and rain whilst the pods are 
j forming, they are very liable to drop off and the produce 
, to be injured." 

(4) Salem : Messrs. Fischer and Co., the only ex- 353 
■porters. — The Cotton lands under cultiva- Letter of Mr 

i tion in this district are rather more than Brett, uth 
15,000 acres. Messrs. Fischer and Co. are Dec " 186L 
] the only persons in the district who buy Cotton for 
, exportation, and the views of Mr. Fischer pa g8 
i upon the subject have already been exhi- 
bited. The Collector adds that good roads intersect 
| the district in all directions, and that the lands on 
i which the Cotton is chiefly grown are for the most part 
within twenty-five or thirty miles of the South- Western 
Railway. 

(5) Coimbatore : detailed report of Mr. Thomas, 354 
the Collector. — In this important district, the scene of 
Dr. Wight's labours, upwards of 120,000 acres are 
under Cotton cultivation. The report of Mr. Thomas 

in reply to Professor Mallett's application Mr>Thomas > s 
is rather lengthy, but exhibits so many plain letter, isth 
and practical details, that it has been ex- ■ Dec '' 1857 ' 
pedient to print it in extenso, merely omitting certain 
data which have already been exhibited so prominently 
in the summary of Dr. Wight's reports, as to require 
no repetition here. 
Soil: Black, Eed, and Alluvium. — "The soils on 355 



226 COTTON IN THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. TI 



which Cotton is grown in this district are as follows. 
1. Black Cotton soil (also called Regur),a formation 
said to be peculiar to India. Its component parts seem 
as yet doubtful. 2. Red soil, formed from disintegrated 
granite, with a large admixture of sand. 3. Alluvium 
of sand and loam, very light and mixed with much 
kunkur limestone. The stiffer clayey soils do not 
answer well, being liable to bake and become very hard 
in dry weather. These two latter are not very deep, 
averaging about fourteen inches. The Black soil is 
the deepest, averaging three or four feet, not unfre- 
quently reaching six feet in depth ; it is also the dry- 
est, and though very absorbent after rain at first, it 
does not keep the moisture long, and the rain does not 
penetrate it beyond a few inches. In some of the 
more sandy Black soils it is said however to penetrate 
three feet. The Red soils, on the other hand, retain 
the moisture longer, and it penetrates them deeper. 
Nearly every crop grown in India is raised on these 
soils, the various kinds of millets,* the castor oil plant, 
etc. On the Black soil, coriander and Bengal-gram 
(Cicer Arietinum, Lin.) are also largely sown ; but it 
is chiefly devoted to the Oopum or Native Cotton ; the 
New Orleans and other exotic species not having been 
found so suitable for it. The soils are all fertile, but a 
field's producing good grain crops is not a criterion it 
will yield a good Cotton crop, which is also regarded 
as very exhausting to the soil. The Red and Alluvial 
seem to produce no weeds, but are covered with the j 
general vegetation of the country. The Black soil is j 
singularly destitute of weeds ; thistles and the daturata . 
(Stramonium) seem to attach themselves most to it, 
and it nourishes only thorny trees of the acacia tribe. 
356 Geology and topography. — " The district is entirely ^ 
primitive granite rock, over which the soil is in general ' 

* E. g. Cholum ^Holchus Saccharatus. _ Lin.) J 

Cumboo (Holchus Spicatus. Lin.) » 

Raggy (Cynosurus Coracanus. Lin.) f 

Samy (Panicum Miliaceum. Lin.) » 
Tenay (Panicnm Italicum. Lin.) 
Gram (Glycine Tomentosa. Lin.) 



1853-62.] CENTRAL TABLE-LAND : ITVE DISTRICTS. 227 



j but thinly spread ; the underlying rock frequently crop- 
) ping out. Beds of kunkur or limestone generally occur 
I beneath the Black soil. Its topographical character is 
that of a wide plain between two mountain ranges, 
| averaging 70 miles across from north to south. The 
| {Western portion lies opposite the Paulghaut Grap, a 
j remarkable break of some 30 miles wide in the line of 
the Western Grhauts about 70 miles from the sea, 
through which the moist south-west monsoon blows 
5 inland strongly and incessantly from June to Septem- 
Jber. It is in the tract under the influence of this 
[current that the New Orleans and exotic Cottons 
;| grow best. The general level above the sea, may be 
Testimated at 1000 feet, and the surface being every- 
| Where gently undulating is well drained. 
' Climate. — "From June to September, during the 357 
prevalence of the south-west monsoon, the climate is 
^cool and cloudy with continual light rains. In Octo- 
ber and November heavy showers fall, the north-east 
monsoon then sets in, and there is a continuance of 
J&ear, bright weather with heavy night dews till Feb- 
Jruary. Hot burning land winds then prevail till May, 
Q and all vegetation is scorched up, though the early 
showers are generally looked for in AprS and May ; 
; these rains however are by no means constant. From 
j June to September the tract lying within and in front 
j|Of the Paulghaut Grap receives continual rain, which 
' seldom however extends to the lands beside or beyond 
' the gap. In October and November the heaviest 
1 Jfliowers fall. The yearly average of rain at Coimbatore 
1 |is 18 inches, and probably twice as much in its south- 
west portion. Irrigation is not employed in the culti- 
vation of Cotton. It was tried experimentally with 
I ^favourable results, but had to be used sparingly, and 
care taken that the surface of the ground did not cake. 
In a small field, which had been occasionally watered, 
the crop of New Orleans Cotton amounted to 260 lbs. 
per acre, whilst in another neighbouring field unirri- 
gated, the pickings scarcely reached 20 lbs. per acre. 
Difference of soil, however, may have had some infl uence 

q 2 



228 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. VI. 1 

over tliis ; and by some irrigation is said not to answer, 1 
producing leaves but not Cotton. i 

358 Seed used and whence obtained. — The seed of the ( 
Native Oopunr Cotton is kept by the Natives from the c 
last crop, and sown in the following season. The seed i 
is not separated from the Cotton till the sowing time, e 
or it loses its germinating power. The New Orleans, 1 
Bourbon, Mexican, &c. seed used in the late Experi- I 
mental Farm, was obtained by Government from Eng- i 
land, or brought out by the American Planters formerly t 
engaged on the Earm here. New Orleans seed of the i 
ninth generation in this country produced excellent i 
crops ; and the American plant has been cultivated in i 
this district from the same seed for eleven years, with- ] 
out apparent deterioration in the quality of either the i 
Cotton or seed produced. # 1 

359 Character of the Cotton plant. — " The Oopum is a i 
small plant, seldom exceeding five feet in height, gene- ] 
rally less, and wears the appearance of a degenerated 1 
species. Its branches have not the same lateral spread 
as the exotic kinds. The Bourbon also averages from 1 
two to three feet in height, but the branches extend 
almost as far laterally. The plants are low, depressed, : 
crooked, and as it were stunted. The New Orleans I 
variety, if left untrimmed, shoots up to nearly six feet 
in height. In the field it averages about four feet ; 
the branches are longer and thinner than the preceding 
species, with more of an upward than a lateral direc- 
tion. A bush four feet high and trimmed will measure 
nearly as much in spread. Two hundred pods have 
been counted on a single bush, the stem often equals a 
man's finger in thickness, and it is the only description 
cultivated here, that at all approaches a tree. Erom a 
foot to eighteen inches is left between the plants, but 
if the growth is vigorous not less than an average dis- 
tance of eighteen inches should be allowed. In 
moderately fertile and high and dry lands, from two 
and a half to three feet between the rows is enough ; 

* This fact has been disputed. See General Kesults at the con- 
clusion of the present chapter, para. 372. 



. J1853-62.] CENTRAL TABLE-LAND : FIVE DISTRICTS. 229 

; but for moist low-lying rich soils five feet m not too 
much, as in such circumstances the bushes will still fill 
hthe ground, and unless they have plenty of room the 
| ^crop blights. The roots ■ of Native Cotton penetrate 
1 [deeper than American, and the Bourbon plant goes 
, .even deeper than the Native ; hence the two latter bear 
| ,heat and drought better than American. In the sam- 
■ pies of American plants now forwarded, the roots owing 
■to their age (5 years) are immensely developed, ex- 
tending some of them to four feet in length and two 
s ofeet in lateral spread : this no doubt much exceeds the 
i average of ordinary plants, which are now unfortunately 
inot obtainable. The roots of the Bourbon plant ap- 
.pear to average one foot and a half in depth and fifteen 
finches in spread, and those of the Native Oopum Cot- 
ton to be about the same in depth, which, considering 
fit is much the smallest of the three, argues a greater 
.proportional depth. Its lateral roots however appear 
|to be very insignificant. 

{ Mode 'of cultivation, time of flowering, weight of 360 
iCotton wool per acre, etc. — " In the southern pro- 
vinces of India, the cultivation of Cotton has to be 
adapted to the peculiarities of the season. Drought is 
fan obstacle, not so much from insufficiency in the 
i quantity of rain, as from its all falling within too short 
; a period. Occasionally for months scarcely a shower 
;falls, until the monsoon regularly sets in ; and then, in 
place of the total quantity being distributed over two 
for three months, nearly the whole falls in as many 
weeks or even days. This usually happens in October ; 
•and a few days of gloomy weather and heavy rain has 
i been known to destroy a fine crop just bursting the 
ipod. It becomes therefore an object so to regulate the 
sowing, that the flowering shall commence after the 
heavy rains have ceased, and the pods ripen during the 
bright clear weather that always follows ; so that, in 
i short, the plants may receive wet wea/ther while grow- 
ing, and dry sunny weather while maturing. The 
mode of cultivation is simple. The ground is well 
ploughed, the deeper the better ; and as much as possi- 
ble freed from weeds, and if uneven the inequalities 



230 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. VI. 

reduced. It should then remain fallow some months, 
and kept in readiness to receive the seed at a day's 
notice ; a single heavy shower will then fit it for the 
reception of the seed. Any such falling between the 
middle of August and beginning of October should be 
taken advantage of, to get the seed sown. If this is 
done, the plant will be sufficiently advanced to derive 
the fullest benefit from the monsoon rains, and should 
come into crop in the course of January, a bright and 
dry month; from which time in ordinary seasons it 
will yield a constant harvest for three or four months, 
and if refreshed by a shower or two in April or May, 
will yield a second crop in autumn. The first hoeing 
is a most important operation, and should never be 
delayed beyond the appearance of the third proper leaf 
(not counting the two seed leaves) ; the ground should 
be freely loosened round the roots, and superfluous 
plants thinned out, so as to give those that are left 
ample room to spread and fill the ground. In a month 
or two, when the flowers begin to open, a second hoeing 
is wanted to clean the ground ; otherwise it gets foul 
and weedy. From that time little more is required, as 
the plants are then sufficiently advanced to keep down 
the weeds and receive little injury from them. Ano- 
ther ploughing in the interval between the two hoeings 
is always beneficial, by so well loosening and airing the 
soil. Very few plants are injured by ploughing be- 
tween the rows, as the roots penetrate deeply and are 
not in the way of the plough ; while any plant trodden 
down by the bullocks, the roots being uninjured, soon 
recovers. The seed should never be sown deeper than 
two inches, if simply covered it is enough. From three 
and a half to four feet between the rows is a good dis- 
tance, as allowing the free use of the plough ; heavier 
crops are so obtained than from closer sowing, the fruit 
setting and ripening better, and fewer flowers blighting 
and dropping off. A foot, or, should the plant be vigor- 
ous, eighteen inches should be allowed between the 
plants. The " ridging " system does not answer, as it 
runs the water off too rapidly. After the autumn crop 
is picked, the ground should be deeply ploughed be- 



1853-62.] CEKTKAL TABLE-LAND : EIVE DISTRICTS. 231 

tween tlie rows, and well exposed to air before the mon- 
\ soon rains set in ; and should they be copious, may be 
g again ploughed and afterwards hoed and weeded. The 
c plants will then shoot afresh and bear another year ; but 
L the second crop is seldom good, and scarcely worth the 
! cost, in the interior at least. On the coast, New Orleans 
3 Cotton has been known to yield better crops in the se- 
[ cond year. The foregoing account refers to the culti- 
j vation in this district of American Cotton. The Native 
. mode of cultivating Indigenous Cotton answers to it in 

all essential points. The ground is ploughed four or 

five times in April ; the seed sown early in October, but 
\ usually broad cast, and the ground again ploughed, and 
: three times weeded during growth. At the first weed- 
] ing five labourers are employed per acre ; at the second 
j six ; and at the third four : they are paid in grain. The 
. picking occupies February and March, and is done at 
j intervals of eight days at a time. Four labourers are 

employed per acre in picking, and one labourer will 
t pick 12 lbs. of clean Cotton in the season. Generally 
| speaking, from 150 to 250 lbs. per acre is always looked 
i upon as a full crop of Native seed Cotton, while from 
j 350 to 500 lbs. is by no means unusual in the case of 

American in good soil and very dark coloured. Yery 
. light, almost sandy, alluvial loam, usually cultivated as 
£ rice fields, has been known to produce from 1200 to 

1400 lbs. of seed Cotton (American) per acre. Three 
, hundred pounds of seed Cotton represent 90 lbs. of 
. clean Cotton. Cultivation to be profitable should yield 
: 100 lbs. of ginned staple per acre. Gins give for Na- 
! tive Cotton about 21, and for American 29 per cent, of 
, Cotton to seed. 

Manure. — " No manure is used, nor any Cotton seed 361 
„ returned to the soil. The stalks are not allowed to de- 
j cay on the ground. They are always plucked up and 
, used by the Natives as firewood. 

Diseases. — " With respect to Native Cotton, in No- 362 
( vember and December the roots are liable to be attacked 

by a worm or grub, which kills the plant. In Decem- 
j ber, too, the flowers and leaves are sometimes destroyed 

by a blight. Should too strong an east wind blow in 



232 COTTON IN THE madeas presidency, [chap, yi 



January, February, or March, the leaves fall, the plants 
droop, and the pods grow crooked. Cloudy, rainy weather 
when the pods burst spoils them. In American Cotton, 
the flowers are apt to be extensively destroyed by two 
beetles, of the genera cetonia and cantharis, that feed 
upon them ; the pods, when ripening, are liable to be 
pierced by an insect, the lava of which feeds on the in- 
side ; so that when they open, a large portion of the 
wool is stained rusty red and spoilt." 

363 4th, Western strip or Malabar coast : three districts. 
—The narrow strip of land between the Western Grhauts 
and Indian Ocean, is known by the general name of 
Malabar, and stretches from the little Native state of 
Paras. 7, ioi, Cochin on the South, northwards to the 
102 - frontiers of the Bombay Presidency. The 
physical features of this region, which is peculiarly 
Paras 76 78 °P en ^° the influence of the south-west 

monsoon, have already been described ; as 
well as the results of the Cotton exploring expedition 
of Mr. Simpson, the American planter. The country 
is divided into three districts ; viz. — (1) North Canara ; 
(2) South Canara ; (3) Malabar. 

364 (1) North Canara : not a Cotton producing District. 
— North Canara is not at present a Cotton producing 
district. The port of Coomptah on the coast is the out- 
let for nearly all the Cotton exported from Bellary and 
the Nizam's dominions. The district is also the scene 
of an interesting experiment in the growth of foreign 
Mr Fischer's Cotton now under trial. The Collector re- 
letter, 12th ports that the lines of communication be- 
Aprii, 1861. t\veen the frontier of the neighbouring Cot- 
ton districts and the coast, are in better order than 
any beyond the boundary of the district. The principal 
road, namely, that between Dharwar and Coomptah, is 
bridged and metalled, and in good working order. Mr. 
Fischer adds, — " The obstacles to increased production 
seem to be uncertainty of local demand, the want of 
European capital and influence in the producing dis- 
tricts, and the absence of a direct shipping port on the 
coast. If European Agency and capital were to be 
found in the Cotton districts, there would be no diffi- 



1853-62.] MALABAR COAST : THREE DISTRICTS. 233 



culty in increasing the supply of Cotton. .However 
great the demand may be at a distance, it has but a 
very indirect effect on the producing powers of the Ryot. 
If the demand exists at his own door, or within his own 
district, he has both the will and the industry to profit 
by it," 

Report of the District Engineer on the experimental 365 
culture of Mr. Kleinknecht. — The District Engineer 
reports " that Cotton soil, in the usual ac- Captaill 
ceptation of that term, does not exist in Walker's 
this district, except possibly in small j|ov! r i86i^ 
patches along portions of the Dharwar fron- 
tier near Moondagode and Hullial, where however 
Cotton is not actually grown, the ground being covered 
with jungle. 

" But it is right to add that an experiment on a large 
scale for the growth of Cotton in jungle land below the 
Ghauts, has been in progress for a couple of seasons, 
under Mr. Kleinknecht, the Agent for Mr. Brooke, a 
Merchant of Bombay and Secretary to the Chamber of 
Commerce at that port. None but the finest varieties 
of foreign seed are put down by Mr. Kleinknecht, and I 
have heard a very high opinion expressed of samples of 
his produce by the Agent of another Bombay Pirm now 
at Beitkool. Mr. Brooke and Mr. Kleinknecht appear 
to have studied the subject for some years past, and to 
have experimentally satisfied themselves as to the right 
season for planting, on which so much depends. So far 
as I am yet informed, Mr. Kleinknecht is sanguine of 
producing Cottons of superior staples, the high prices 
commanded by which, and the cheapness of shipping 
them, will amply repay even the heavy cost of European 
superintendence, and of felling and weeding plantations 
cut in heavy jungle, and liable to an overgrowth of rank 
vegetation each monsoon. 

" But the fullest particulars regarding this interest- 
ing and practical experiment will be afforded to Govern- 
ment by Mr. Kleinknecht himself, in competing for the 
prize offered in each Presidency for the encouragement 
of Cotton produce of the superior qualities. I will only 
add that should he prove successful, he will have opened 



234 COTTON ITS' THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. VI 



a large field for speculators in the same line, as ground 
precisely similar to that operated upon by him is avail- 
able along the banks of all our large rivers below the 
Ghaut, especially the Kalee JSTuddee or Sedashegur river, 
the Gungawally, the Tuddey, and Honore rivers." 

366 (2) South Canara : not a Cotton producing District. 
— South Canara produces but a very inconsiderable 
Mr.Hodg- amount of Cotton, and that little is sown 
son's letter, along with grain, and is used entirely in 
6thDec.,i86i. ^ omegt i c manufactures. The quantity pro- 
duced is indeed so small that none ever finds its way to 
the seaboard for shipment ; on the contrary it is imported 
largely from the port of Coomptah in North Canara. 

367 (3) Malabar: not a Cotton producing District. — 
Mr Grant's ^ ne Collector reports that Malabar is not 
letter, i3th a Cotton producing district. The article is 
April, 1861. however largely imported by land from the 
adjoining province of Coimbatore, chiefly for the pur- 
pose of exportation by sea to Bombay. 

368 Native States : Mysore, Cochin, and Travancore. — 
The Cotton grown in the Native states in the Madras 
Mr Be 's Presidency is inconsiderable in quantity, 
letterfmh and is almost entirely employed for domes- 
November, tic purposes. From the port of Cochin 

about 250,000 lbs. are annually exported to 
Bombay. The trade is entirely in the hands of the 
Shroffs or Native Bankers, who advance money to the 
cultivators, and thus keep the trade entirely to them- 
selves. 



369 Conclusion : general results.— It seems expected that 
before bringing the present Hand-book to a close, the 
compiler should offer some opinion on the results of the 
experiments that have been made in the way of improv- 
ing the Cotton staple in this country. In the prepara- 
tion of the foregoing work, he has considered himself 
more in the light of a literary mechanic, condensing and 
arranging the subject matter in such a form as would 
render the facts most digestible to the general reader, 
than as possessing any special knowledge of Cotton be- 
yond what might be required in the prosecution of his 



1853-62.] F0UB, GENEKAL CONCLUSIONS. 



235 



task. But still the analysis and comparison of facts 
naturally leads to certain convictions, and those con- 
victions may perhaps be recorded with advantage. 

Four general conclusions. — Pour general conclusions 370 
appear to have been established ; viz. — 

1st, American Cotton can be grown, but the profit is 
questionable. 

2nd, Indian Cotton may be improved, but only to a 
degree. 

3rd, American Cotton must always command a higher 
price than Indian. 

4th, The demand for Indian Cotton must always de- 
pend on the supply of American. 

These four conclusions may be considered in order. 

1st, American Cotton can be grown, but the profit is 371 
questionable. — The fact that American Cotton can be 
grown in the Madras Presidency, has been sufficiently 
proved by the numerous experiments that have been 
recorded ; but the produce, though of good quality, 
has been very variable and disappointing as regards 
quantity. The question of profit, however, is a totally 
different one. Mr. David Lees produced much fine 
Cotton in Tinnevelly, but at a great pecuniary sacrifice. 
Captain Lawford again endeavoured to prove that the 
cultivation of foreign Cotton would prove as profitable 
to the Byot as that of grain, even on the more highly 
rented lands that are under an artificial system of irri- 
gation. But the Byots would not be convinced. Set- 
ting grain out of the question, the Byot has hitherto 
found it more safe and profitable to grow Indigenous 
Cotton than to grow New Orleans Cotton. The cultiva- 
tion of the Indigenous article is cheap and simple. The 
picking and separation of the staple from the seed costs 
literally nothing, for both operations are performed by 
hands which would be otherwise idle. The crop is 
tolerably certain, the staple clothes the family, the seed 
feeds the cattle, and the residue finds a ready market 
on the spot. On the other hand, American Cotton is a 
speculation. The cultivation is more difficult, the se- 
paration of the staple from the seed is more expensive, 
the crop is uncertain, the staple not in use amongst 



236 COTTON IN THE MAD HAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. TL 



Native spinners, the seed popularly supposed to be un- 
fit for cattle, and the market doubtful and distant. 
High prices on the spot would extend the cultivation 
of Indian Cotton, and perhaps promote the cultivation 
of American Cotton ; but this is a question for the con- 
sideration, not of Government, but of the merchant and 
manufacturer. 

72 2nd, Indian Cotton may be improved, but only to a 

degree. — This inference, though it amounts to a con- 
viction, is not so distinctly proved as the previous pro- 
position. It has been stated that at one time the Cot- 
ton of India was of a finer quality than it is in the 
present day. This may be readily believed. In the 
olden time, when Indian manufactured goods were in 
large demand, the Native manufacturers purchased the 
raw material upon the spot, and the prices varied ac- 
cording to quality. Thus the profit of the grower de- 
pended upon the quality of the wool, and more attention 
was naturally paid to the cultivation of the plant and 
cleanliness of the staple. Up to this point, and by means 
of a similar stimulus, the Indigenous Cotton may be 
improved in the present day, but no further. As a re- 
Economist, cen ^ writer in a London paper has remarked, 
25th Jan., the Indigenous Cotton is the product of an 

1862 • • 

, Indian soil and climate, just as New Orleans 
is the product of an American soil and climate. The 
same writer also states that New Orleans Cotton grown 
in India has a tendency to degenerate, and to approx- 
imate year by year to the Indigenous article. To this 
it may be added that the Bourbon Cotton of the present 
day can scarcely be of the same quality as it was forty 
years ago, when " Hughes Tinnevelly Cotton " was 
quoted at high prices in the Liverpool market. Indeed, 
it might be inferred that the crop is more or less pre- 
carious in proportion to the difference between the ex- 
otic plant and the Indigenous article. Accordingly it 
seems -to be very nearly proved, that whilst an improved 
quality of the Indigenous Cotton can be produced with 
profit to the Eyot by a little more care in the selection 
of seed, in the cultivation of the plant, and in the clean- 
liness of the staple, — the soil and climate of Southern 



1853-62.] FOUR GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 



237 



India will never produce a reliable and permanent crop 
of Cotton equal to the New Orleans variety. 

3rd, American Cotton must always command a 373 
higher price than Indian. — This conclusion is already 
proved by what has been stated in support of the pre- 
vious proposition. New Orleans Cotton is undoubtedly 
better than any which has yet been produced in India. 
A pound of New Orleans makes much more yarn, and 
from the length of the staple can be twisted much more 
rapidly into yarn than a pound of Indian Cotton. Thus 
a pound of New Orleans Cotton must always fetch more 
than a pound of Indian Cotton, because it furnishes a 
larger quantity and a better quality of wool. 

4th, The demand for Indian Cotton must always 374 
depend upon the supply of American. — This conclusion 
may also be inferred from the previous propositions. 
The manufacturer will always prefer New Orleans to 
Indian Cotton ; and Indian will only be purchased when 
New Orleans is scarce and too highly priced. The po- 
sition of Indian Cotton in the English market is thus 
strictly a subsidiary one ; and its utility to the manu- 
facturer is more in the way of keeping down the price 
of New Orleans, than of being actually employed in the 
manufacture of goods. The tendency of New Orleans 
to rise in price is checked by the importation of Indian 
Cotton ; and whenever the disparity of price is such 
that the same money's worth of Indian staple will make 
more money's worth of yarn than New Orleans, then 
the Indian will be largely in demand. The improve- 
ment of communications in India, and the large increase 
of Cotton cultivation in the latter country, will probably 
render the Indian Cotton better and cheaper ; but until 
this Cotton can be laid down in Liverpool at such a 
price, and in such quantities, as to render the culture of 
American Cotton a loss to the Planter, the American 
will always hold its own, and the demand for Indian 
will depend upon the supply of American. Manchester 
looks to India for Cotton, not to supply her looms, but 
to keep down the price of the New Orleans staple. 

Political and commercial prospects of Indian Cotton. 375 
— Upon this point, as on the others, the compiler merely 



238 COTTON 1ST THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. YI. 

expresses those convictions which have arisen in his 
mind during the prosecution of his present task. It is 
said that the moment the blockade of the Southern 
States is broken, the Indian Cotton will cease to be in 
demand. This may occur for a brief period, but is 
scarcely likely to be lasting. A panic may bring down 
the price of Indian Cotton to a minimum, but it is not 
so certain that the price of New Orleans will fall so low 
as to render the Indian quite a drug in the market. The 
Southern States have been so disorganized,, and slavery 
has received such a blow, that we can scarcely expect 
that the American supply will be fully equal to the de- 
mand for a long time to come ; and the weight of a na- 
tional debt will probably be so heavy that without any 
direct duty on the transit of Cotton, prices must be 
higher than they have been hitherto. It is perhaps as 
well to bear these conditions in mind, inasmuch as it is 
greatly to be feared that the panic which may follow the 
opening of the Southern ports, will prove so disastrous 
to the Cotton cultivation in this country, as to undo all 
the good that has been effected by the recent stimulus 
to the Indian supply. With the expression of these 
convictions, the task of the compiler is brought to a 
close. 



APPENDIX 



I. 

STATEMENT 

SHOWING THE EXTENT OE 

COTTON CULTIVATION 

IN THE SEVERAL DISTRICTS OF 

THE MADEAS PRESIDENCY, 

EOR EIGHT YEARS, ieom 1853-54 to 1860-61. 



11 



Statement showing the Cultivation of Cotton in the Districts 
from 1853-54, prepared from the Annual Jam- 



GOVERNMENT 







1853-54. 


1854-55. 


1855-56. 


1856-57. 




Districts. 




















A ccpcc. 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 








ment. 




ment. 




ment. 










Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


T? ii nooc 
xw UjJccb. 






Acres. 


1 




2,574 


2,996 


2,482 


4,218 


2,647 


3,828 


3,066 


2 


Vizagapatam 


966 


4,506 


933 


4,304 


1,019 


4,618 


911 


3 


Rajahmundry.-- 


1,480 


3,594 


4,248 


9,304 


3,459 


6,979 


3,470 


4 








6,128 


6,767 


, 7,246 


7,370 


6,410 


5 




55,206 


79,678 


54,862 


81,102 


63,570 


96,799 


60,877 


6 




2,786 


5,181 


3,955 


6,064 


3,513 


4,360 


3,742 


7 


Cuddapah 


42,233 


60,862 


47,962 


71,414 


40,554 


56,041 


44,224 


8 




1,32,585 


1,56,909 


1,04,578 


1,26,778 


73,544 


89,114 


1,50,927 


9 




fifi 023 


76 148 


64,641 


72,755 


59,739 


66,935 


70,835 


10 












2 


g 


1 


11 








21 




35 




32 


12 


South Areot , , 


1,828 


5,078 


2,227 


4,323 


4,863 


10,553 


3,131 


13 


Tanjore 


3,607 


5,106 


2,671 


3,957 


2,704 


3,805 


2,558 


14 


Trichinopoly.. 


5,950 


8,956 


6,060 


9,866 


5,188 


7,951 


6,172 


15 


Madura 


36,681 


64,532 


34,499 


62,691 


31,520 


57,682 


29,015 


16 


Tiimevelly 


1,23,836 


1,08,120 


1,24,932 


1,10,483 


1,14,969 


1,04,408 


1,11,576 


17 


Coimbatore 


1,03,196 


1,66,360 


1,04,559 


161,311 


1,22,457 


1,40,455 


80,417 


18 




7,338 


11,564 


7,608 


11,922 


5,597 


8,568 


11,241 


19 


















20 


















21 




















Total 


5,86,289 


7,59,590 


5,72^366 


7,47,326 


5,42,631 


6,69,537 


5,88,605 



Ill 



of the Madras Presidency for the last eight years, commencing 
mabundy Accounts received from the Collectors. 



Lands. 




1857-58. 


1858-59. 


1859-60. 


1860-61. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


ment. 




ment. 




ment. 




ment. 




ment. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


4,124 


2,689 


3,546 


2,592 


3,368 


3,523 


5,315 


2,955 


3,425 


4,791 


869 


4,423 


889 


4,347 


918 


4,707 


1,047 


4,699 










**) Oodvyt 




7,585 


2,492 


5,266 


2,688 


4,821 


$ 5,227 


8,681 


4,649 


6,409 


7,142 


5,456 


5,133 


6,856 


6,639 


Kist. 










C«« 449 


1 ^4 R^fi 


80 312 




93,168 


62,926 


95,961 


76,196 


1,20,722 


6,471 


2,351 


3,158 


2,762 


3,903 


3,270 


4,018 


4,113 


5,032 


66,251 


37,752 


57,181 


23,092 


34,325 


22,166 


32,354 


16,397 


17,048 


2,25,388 


1,23,526 


1,51,787 


1,73,271 


1,74,023 


1,81,609 


1,86,697 


1,80,157 


1,84,643 


77,900 
3 


63,140 


73,960 


1,01,648 


1,19,514 


98,174 


1,14,736 


78,187 


93,167 


67 


30 


50 


24 


35 


23 


42 


36 


57 


5,789 


18,309 


43,680 


18,174 


42,085 


32,543 


7o,Zoo 


OA fiOfl 

o%ooo 


tin aka 
77,4<o4! 


3,669 


2,361 


3,671 


1,756 


2,632 


1,036 


1,356 


576 


793 


8,734 


4,920 


8,383 


5,079 


8,773 


4,698 


7,945 


4,719 


8,679 


50,924 


32,806 


61,504 


31,975 


59,415 


33,591 


62,478 


34,255 


63,208 


98,188 


1,21,975 


1,14,577 


1,25,985 


1,15,577 


1,22,078 


1,08,762 


1,26,888 


1,19,918 


89,169 


1,00,329 


1,15,077 


1,16,326 


1,33,486 


1,03,916 


1,36,438 


1,16,013 


1,27,138 


18,058 


11,736 


18,471 


11,149 


77,827 


10,134 


15,089 


10,507 


16,389 












4 


6 


4 


6 


7,67,421 


5,93,671 


7,65,828 


7,00,462 8,51,492 


7,11,359 


8^728 


679575OI 


8,52,265 



B 



IV 



Statement showing the Cultivation of Cotton in the 



In am 







1853-54. 


1854-55. 


1855-56. 


1856-57. 




Districts. 


















Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 








ment. 




ment. 




ment. 








Acres . 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


1 




138 




153 


190 


186 


309 


125 


2 




91 


521 


118 


625 


124 


578 


132 


3 


Rajahmundry... 


512 


1,095 


425 


557 


1,000 


1,550 


839 


4 








1,686 


2,114 


1,740 


1,964 


1,881 


5 


Guntoor 


42,139 


60,796 


34,754 


53,941 


41,900 


52,858 


36,286 


6 




1,559 


2,491 


1,351 


1,700 


849 


922 


1,188 


7 




25,338 


41,280 


27,090 


41,682 


25,277 


39,715 


30,857 


8 




81,069 


1,18,104 


62,262 


87,476 


50,564 


72,754 


1,09,650 


9 




41,075 


8,671 


39,818 


11,421 


40,498 


8,466 


45,573 


10 














c ... 




11 












5 


10 


3 


12 


South Arcot , , , 


3 


7 


... 


... 


7 


15 


1 


13 


Tanjore 


178 


... 


99 


... 


65 


... 


99 


14 


Trichinopoly, , 


40 


66 


39 


66 


39 


66 


1,898 


15 


Madura 


4,803 


9,335 


4,759 


9,069 


4,230 


8,095 


4,513 


16 


Timievelly 


2,983 


2,893 


2,926 


2,862 


2,577 


2,301 


1,879 


17 


Coimbatore 


8,904 


11,371 


9,358 


11,294 


11,749 


12,011 


9,739 


18 




41 


106 


17 


30 


13 


19 


48 


19 


Canara 
















20 


















21 




















Total 


2,08,873' 


2,56,736 


1,84,855 


2,23,027 


1,80,823 


2^633 


2j4,~711 



V 



Districts of the Madras Presidency, &c— (Continued.) 





1857-58. 


1858-59. 


1859-60. 


1860-61. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Jbxtent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


161 


134 


308 


67 


114 


122 


153 


78 


99 


768 
2,310 


182 

585 


1,008 
961 


223 
1,035 


1,139 
1,504 


246 
) Godvy. 
5 1,861 


1,343 
2,788 


275 
2,247 


1,438 
3,138 


2,988 
50,595 


1,079 
39,909 


1,453 
55,400 


1,568 
42,122 


2,131 
57,284 


Kist. 
[■41,411 


61,104 


43,432 


61,213 


1,751 


512 


629 


989 


1,309 


T AAA 

1,000 


1,233 


751 


829 


51,186 


26,260 


43,081 


13,620 


21,964 


11,201 


21,644 


9,523 


14,372 


1,80,623 


79,613 


98,396 


69,028 


95,337 


1 AO OTJ 

I,0o,o77 


1,11,619 


1,02,516 


1,10,701 


9,946 


37,931 


8,441 


63,745 


40,717 


54,151 


16,558 


54,366 


35,016 


9 


2 


6 


5 


9 


1 


5 


5 


14 


8 


7 

40 


47 


2 


5 


655 


1,933 


225 


653 


3,381 


510 


617 


749 


1,311 


1,098 


1,538 


915 


1,549 


8,526 


5,067 


9,583 


4,764 


9,429 


5,119 


9,778 


3,830 


7,523 


1,998 


3,724 


2,953 


12,883 


15,860 


9,441 


9,989 


12,286 


12,388' 


9,817 


12,437 


12,202 


13,142. 


12,745 


13,869 


12,086 


14,685 


12,692 


66 


39 


57 


65 


195 


61 


195 


66 


186 


3,24,133 


2,08,031 


1 2,35,142 


2,24,052 


2,61,053 


2,44,113 


2,51,966 


2^200 


2^6T,811 



r2 



Statement showing the Cultivation of Cotton in the 



Zemindaey 







1853-54. 


1854-55. 


1855-56. 


1856-57. 




DISTRICTS. 


















Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent . 


Assess- 


Extent. 









ment. 




ment. 




ment. 








Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


1 






9 £71 


TO 

J.V7 








1,407 


2 


Vizagapatam 


4,247 


OA OOft 

30,489 




OA 1 (\/t 


o,you 




4,066 


3 


Rajahmundry... 


2,912 


6,569 




y,7»o 


°. 7<3£ 


Q OOQ 

o,oZo 


3,453 


4 






*** 








i fin 


731 


5 


Guntoor 
















6 




6,885 


6,396 


8,o90 


7,641 


9,816 


8,449 


9,196 


7 


Cuddapah 


58 


119 


OU 


101 


77 






8 






... 




* 




... 




9 




••• 


... 


... 










10 












... 


... 




11 


North Arcot 






7 


4 


1 


1 


31 


12 


South Arcot 






1 


4 


28 


71 


3 


13 


Tanjore 


658 




489 




308 




312 


14 


Trichinopoly. . 


7 


20 












15 


Madura 


39,572 


51,251 


39,890 


53,630 


16,266 


21,971 


36,444 


18 


Thmevelly 


6,821 


8,495 


6,777 


8,406 


7,492 


9,046 


47,580 


17 


Coimbatore 


1,819 


3,612 


1,610 


3,380 


1,714 


2,948 


897 


18 


Salem 


6,529 


10,073 


6,174 


8,980 


4,881 


7,417 


611 


19 


















20 


Malabar 
















21 


Madras 


















Total 


70,719 


1,19,495 


T£618 


1,22,068 


51,121 


93,623 


1,04,731 



Vll 

Districts of the Madras Presidency, &c. — (Continued.) 



Lands. 





1857-58. 


1858-59. 


1859-60. 


1860-61. 




Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 




Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Paipees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 




3,281 


2,174 


4,797 


1,427 


3,164 


1,124 


3,057 


1,645 


4,194 




31,455 
8,140 


4,363 
3,436 


32,240 
8,841 


3,998 
2,890 


28,949 
7,506 


5,572 
7 Godvy. 
S 5,657 


29,096 
12,682 


3,473 
5,761 


27,040 
10,970 




284! 


1,151 
... 


521 


1,303 
... 


907 


~) Kist. 
S- 1,278 


656 


1,111 


475 




7 700 
... 


8,243 
... 


7,052 
... 


8,224 


7,780 


8,933 
... 


7,509 


8,865 


7,945 
... 




70 


35 


79 


25 


56 


31 


73 








5 




















... 

50,313 


36,719 


50,665 


39,079 


53,193 


38,449 


53,887 


43,165 


62,020 




58,561 


69,151 


73,428 


56,022 


59,648 


52,806 


56,200 


49,168 


49,309 




1,846 


897 


1,846 


2,243 


3,538 


2,301 


3,730 


1,535 


2,809 




1,366 


4,279 


7,401 


1,998 


4,207 


5,019 


7,186 


5,134 


7,467 




1,63,001 


1,30,482~ 


1,86,870 


1,17,209 


1^945 


1^1,170 


C74~076 


1^9,857 


1,72,229 | 



Vlll 



Statement showing the Cultivation of Cotton in the 



To 







1853-54. 


1854-55. 


1855-56. 


1856- 




Districts. 


















Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 


Assess- 


Extent. 








ment. 




ment. 




ment. 








Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


1 




3,923 


5,667 


2,645 


4,436 


5,178 


8,810 


4,598 


2 


Vizagapatam... 


5,304 


35,316 


5,010 


35,033 


5,104 


35,093 


5,109 


3 


Rajahmundry 


4,904 


11,257 


8,921 


19,651 


8,224 


17,352 


7,762 


4 


Masulipatam... 


... 


... 


7,814 


8,881 


9,454 


9,524 


9,022 


5 




97,345 


1,40,474 


89,616 


1,35,043 


1,05,470 


1,49,657 


97,163 


6 




11,230 


14,068 


13,696 


15,405 


14,178 


13,731 


14,126 


7 


Cuddapah 


67,629 


1,02,261 


75,112 


1,13,197 


65,908 


95,898 


75,801 


8 


Bellary 


2,13,654 


2,75,013 


1,66,840 


2,14,254 


1,24,108 


1,61,868 


2,60,577 


9 




1,07,098 


84,819 


1,04,459 


84,176 


1,00,237 


75,401 


1,16,408 


10 




... 


••• 


... 


... 


2 


8 


1 


11 


North Arcot ... 


... 


••• 


28 


71 


41 


74 


66 


12 


South Arcot.... 


1,831 


5,015 


2,228 


4,327 


4,903 


10,639 


3,135 


13 


Tanjore 


4,443 


5,106 


3,259 


3,957 


3,077 


3,805 


2,969 


14 


Trichinopoly... 


5,997 


9,042 


6,099 


9,932 


5,227 


8,017 


8,070 


15 




81,056 


1,25,118 


79,151 


1,25,390 


52,016 


87,748 


69,974 


16 


Tinnevelly 


1,33,640 


1,19,508 


1,34,634 


1,21,751 


1,25,038 


1,15,755 


1,61,035 


17 


Coimbatore,, 


1,13,919 


1,81,343 


1,15,527 


1,75,985 


1,35,920 


1,55,414 


91,053 


18 


Salem 


13,908 


21,743 


13,799 


20,932 


10,491 


16,004 


11,900 


19 


Canara 
















20 


Malabar 
















21 




















Total 


8,65,881 


11,35,820 


8,28,838 


10,92,421 


7,74,575 


9,64,798 


9^047 



ix 



Districts of the Madras Presidency, &c. — (Continued ) 



TAL. 



57. 


1857-58. 


1858-59. 


1859-60. 


1860-61. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Extent. 


Assess- 
ment. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 


Acres. 


Rupees. 




Acres. 


Rupees. 


7,546 


A (\C\>7 

4,yy7 


o,ooi 


A, AQC 


O,O<*0 




B,U4t> 




7 71 S 


37,014 
18,035 


5,414 
6,513 


37,671 
15,068 


5,110 
6,613 


34,435 
13,831 


6,736 
^ Godvy. 
$ 12,745 


35,146 
24,151 


4,794 
, 12,657 


33,177 
20,517 


10,414 
1,43,763 


7,686 
1,02,835 


7,107 
1,51,361 


9,727 
1,18,318 


9,677 
1,78,006 


Kist. 

( i oi TOO 

> l y 31,lt3o 


1 QR ZQR 




X,oO,ooo 


15,922 


11,106 


10,839 


11,975 


12,992 


13,203 


12,760 


13,729 


13,806 


1,17,437 


64,012 


1,00,262 


36,712 


56,289 


33,367 


53,998 


25,920 


31,420 


4,06,011 


2,03,139 


2,50,183 


2,42,299 


2,69,360 


2,85,486 


2,98,316 


2,82,673 


2,95,344 


87,846 


1,01,071 


82,401 


1,65,393 


1,60,231 


1,52,325 


1,31,294 


1,32,553 


1,28,183 


3 

146 


67 


135 


54 


100 


55 


120 


41 


71 


5,802 


18,316 


43,727 


18,176 


42,090 


33,198 


75,201 


34,911 


78,107 


3,609 


2,444 


3,671 


1,756 


2,632 


1,036 


1,356 


57o 




12,115 


5,430 


9,000 


5,873 


10,034 


5,796 


9,483 


5,634 


10,228 


1,09,763 


74,583 


1,21,752 


75,818 


1,22,037 


77,159 


1,26,143 


81,250 


1,32,751 


1,58,747 


1,94,850 


1,90,958 


1,94,890 


1,91,085 


1,84,325 


1,74,951 


1,88,342 


1,81,615 


1,00,832 


1,13,663 


1,29,125 


1,31,711 


1,49,769 


1,20,086 


1,52,254 


1,32,233 


1,42,639 


19,489 


16,054 


25,929 

1 


13,212 


22,229 


15,214 


22,470 


15,707 


24,042 
••• 












4 


e 


1 4 


t 6 


12,54,554 


9,32,180 1 11,87,840 1 10,41,725 


12,81,49; 


I 10,76,642 


13,22,77( 


) 10,60,55; 


' 12^86^305 



W. HTJDLESTON, Secretary Board of Bevenue. 



II. 

Statement showing the Average Assessment per Acre of Dry 
Lands in each District of the Presidency, prepared from 
the Settlement Returns for 1859-60. 



No. 


Districts. 


Average assess- 
ment per acre. 


Do. in English 
money. 






Rs. 


As. 


P. 


£ 


8. 


d. 


1 




1 


3 


8* 





2 


51 


2 




3 


15 


9* 





7 


iif 


3 




2 


13 


11* 


o 


5 


°8 


4 




1 


7 


8 





2 


ui 


5 




1 


6 


4 





2 


91 


D 









10 





1 


5f 


7 







10 


5 





1 


3§ 


8 







15 


10 





1 


HI 


9 




1 


8 








3 





10 




1 


6 


9 





2 


101 


11 




1 


15 


4 





3 


11 


12 




1 


2 


7 





2 




13 




1 


13 





0' 


3 




14 




1 


5 


6 





2 


n 


15 







13 








1 


n 


16 







14 


6 





1 


n 


17 




1 


4 


8 





2 


7 

















* The Government assessment on the three Districts of Ganjam, Vizagapatam, 
and Godavery, does not include the Zemindaries, which constitute in Ganjam 
and Vizagapatam the largest, and ill the Godavery a very large, part of the 
District. 



xu 



III. 



Districts. 



Nellore. 



j-Per 500 lbs. 
(.Per 25 lbs. 



(-Per 500 lbs. 

Guntoor 

(Kristua) CPer 25 lbs. 



Cuddapah- 



Per 500 lbs. 



Per 25 lbs. 



Kurnool Per 25 lbs. 

Bellary Per 25 lbs. 

Madura Per 25 lbs. 



Coimbatore 



-{ 



Per 500 lbs. 



Per 25 lbs. 
Ti„nevell y ...{^5001bs. 



Average price of 

Cotton freed 
from seed at the 
principal mart 
or marts of the 
district. 



£ s. d. 



AVERAGE PRICE AT "WHICH IT IS SOLD 
BY THE RYOTS. 



"With Advances. 



Cleaned 
Cotton. 



Uncleaned 
Cotton. 



Without Advances. 



Cleaned 
Cotton. 


Unclean- 
ed Cotton 







£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. '£ s. d. 



4 II 3 9 



10 



2 19 
2 llf 

4 6 

4 3i- 



2 13 1£ 13 4* 



2 7* 

i3 10 
3 6 



8 



12 



o r-iYW 



3 3| 10 3 21 9| 



4 11 8f 

4 7 

£4 14*. to £5 
s.8±*d. to 5s. 



4 
4 



jl 4 10| 

! 1 3 

12 
1 I. 3 . 



4 21 1 5 



2 17 7| iO 15 



2 10j| 



3 18 



9 



14 



3 10|| 1 2H 



3 4 



2 111 



o o o; 



14 

^•316,^ 
lbs., or 
aboutls. 
l|d. per 
25 lbs. 

2 



4 8i J 1 2 



xiii 









Extent of land in 

ACRES. 


Cost of Cleaning. 


Expense of convey- 
ance to the nearest 
port of shipment 
for every ten miles. 


Average Produce 
per acre. 


Under cul- 
tivation. 


Capable of 
producing 
Cotton. 


£ s. d. 

f 3| 
X (Uncleaned.) 


L s. a. 

81 
OiV 


C 111 lbs. 11| oz. 
X (Uncleaned.) 


596 





6 4i ? (T 

f 3|| 
X (Uncleaned.) 


4 8 A 
2iJ 


C 233 lbs. 2 oz. 


47,299 
21 


102,646 
41 


3 4 

C 2 

X (Uncleaned.) 


/ 17 3 
J by bandy and 
) 1 8 9 
I by bullocks. 

10^i 


200 lbs. 
(Uncleaned.) 


79,562 


219,587 


C 1 

I (Uncleaned.) 


7{ e- 


f 112 lbs. 8 oz. 
(. (Uncleaned.) 


19,881 


75,481 


5\ 


< 19 

\ to Coompta. 


( 46 lbs. 5 oz. 
X (Cleaned.) 


260,000 


400,000 


4 101 
' per 243 lbs. of 
cleaned cotton, or 
n.Vimit firZ T>pr 25 
lbs.; but this is 
more than met by 
the value of the 
seed 

3 

ll? 

10 
6 


6 

6s. 6d. in rains 
per cart-load or 4 
bales of 243| lbs. 
each; or lgd. per 
25 lbs. to Tutico- 
rin. 

13 

7lf 

12 0. 
7,<r 


316 lbs. 12 oz. 
(Uncleaned.) 

( 110 lbs. 

X (Uncleaned.) 

75 lbs. (Cleaned.) 
300 lbs. 
(Uncleaned.) 


48,747 
including 
Ramnad 
and She- 
vagunga. 

97,830 

122,391 

1 


60,747 

not speci- 
fied but tc 
a great ex 
tent. 
137,391 



XIV 



IV. 



Statement of Cotton Exported from the several ports of tlie 
3fadras Presidency to Foreign and Indian Ports. 
From 1847-48 to 1860-61. 



1847-48. 



l. Fort St. George 



2. PwAJAHMU^DRY 



o. Tanjore 



4. TlNNEVELLY 



5. Malabar 



to United Kingdom 

Ceylon 

China 

France 

Penang, Singapore, and 

Malacca 

Indian French Ports 

Total 

to Penang, Singapore, and 

Malacca 

Bengal 

Indian French Ports 

Pegu 

Total 

to Ceylon 

Penang, Singapore, and 
Malacca 

Total 

to United Kingdom 

Ceylon 

China 

Indian French Ports 

r iravancore 

Total 

to United Kingdom 

Maldive Islands 

Mauritius and Bourbon 

Bombay 

Travancore 

Total 



Quantity in 
lbs. 


Value in 
Rs. 


1,993,712 
531,664 
1,544,144 
1,456 


215,321 
57,420 
166,763 
129 


130,256 
256,368 


14 068 
17,279 


4,457,600 


470,9S5 


2,841 
7,828 
200 
1,078 


554 
627 
16 
210 


11,947 


1,407 


150 


6 


10,919 


1,625 


11,069 


1,631 


960,900 
8,141 
4,066,450 

154,000 
4,275 


134,526 
1,139 
692,810 
21,560 
599 


5,193,766 


850,634 


193,134 
1,531 
16,702 
14S,434 
8,536 


31,774 
252 

3,103 
30,523 

1,540 


368,337 


67,197 



XV 



1847-48.— Continued. 



6. Canara 



to Bombay 

Travancore 

Total. 



Quantity in 
lbs. 



14,345,052 
59,320 

14,404,372 



Value in 
Us. 



1,305,629 
4,432 

1,310,061 











Quantity in 


Value in 








lbs. 


lis. 






to 


United Kingdom 


500,196 


63,193 




JJ 




China 


359^080 


35^938 




JJ 




Penang, Singapore, and 








Malacca 


446 778 


50 622 








Bengal 


25^209 


2'586 




JJ 






188,479 


14,260 








Total 


1,517,742 


i on tzi(\ 

lbo,57y 


2. 


Masulipatam 


to 


Bengal Total | 


31,049 


2,298 


3. 


TlNNEVELLY 


to 


United Kingdom 


2,190,239 


306,641 




» 




Ceylon 


6,562 






M 






7,442,463 


1,041,945 




JJ 






414,075 


57,971 








Total 


10,0o3 ,339 


1,407,476 


4. 


Malabae 


to 




343,293 


70,603 










964 


194 




»J 




Mauritius and Bourbon 


1,180 


243 










1,096,659 


225,053 




JJ 






75,990 


11,943 








Total 


1,518,086 


308,036 


•5, 


Can aha 


to 




4,908,486 


390,338 




JJ 






20,222 


1,409 








Total 


4,928,703 


391,747 



XVI 



1849-50. 



1. Fort St. George to United Kingdom 

„ China 

„ France 

„ Penang, Singapore, and 

Malacca 

„ Bengal 

„ Indian French Ports 

Total 



Quantity in 
lbs. 


Value in 
lis. 


591,325 


2^6 882 
47,963 


117,900 
1,640,700 
431,072 


10,321 
153,393 
38,173 


5,514,485 


508,082 



2. Rajahmundry 


to 




24,380 


1,821 


3. Masulipatam 


to 


Bengal Total 


60,992 


4,548 


4. South Arcot 


to 


United Kingdom. Total . . . 


210,000 


29,400 


5. Tanjore 


to 


Penang, Singapore, and 












11,500 


1,646 


6. Madura 


to 




57,604 


12,104 



7. TlNNEVELLY 



to 



United Kingdom. 

Ceylon 

China 



1,988,125 
150,425 
7,085,143 



Total 9,223,693 



8. Malabar to United Kingdom 

„ Maldive Islands 

„ Mauritius and Bonrbon, 

„ Bombay 

Travancore 



Total. 



109,410 


22,130 


720 


148 


9,340 


1,561 


231,590 


47,632 


24,080 


3,076 


375,140 


74,547 



G. Canara 



to Bombay Total.. 



21,949,074 I 2,252,650 



xvii 



1850-51. 



1. Foet St. George to United Kingdom. 

China. 



2. Masulipatam 

3. TlNNEVELLY 



4. Malabar 



5. Canara 



France 

Penang, Singapore, and 

Malacca 

Bengal 

Indian French Ports 



Total. 

to Bengal Total. 



to United Kingdom. 

Ceylon 

China 



Total. 



to United Kingdom 

Maldive Islands 

Mauritius and Bourbon. 

Bombay 

Travaiicore 



Total. 



43,728 



3,646,639 
679,525 
3,728,500 



8,054,664 



380,960 
640 
7,600 
177,920 
14,231 

581,350 



Quantity in 
lbs. 


Yalue in 
Us. 


5,010,290 
5,426,850 
255,900 


575,144 
651,501 
38,367 


299,400 
1,363,500 
182,462 


32,670 
171,425 
22,301 


12,538,402 


1,491,408 



4,189 



510,529 
91,134 
521,990 



1,127,653 



77,749 

123 
1,571 
36,314 
2,159 



117.916 



to Arabian Gulf I 2,216 

Bombay J 23,960,244 



Total 



23,970,460 



270 
3,081,354 

3,081,624 



1851-52. 


Quantity in 
lbs 


Value in 
Rs. 


1. Foet St. Geoege 


to United Kingdom 

China 


1,804,950 
3,672,203 
48,000 

1,331,100 

900,800 
300,507 


196,637 
367,963 
5,709 

145,457 
99,086 
30,505 


»> 


France 


» 


Penang, Singapore, and 
















Total 


8,057,560 


845,357 



2. Masulipatam 



to Bengal Total. 



56,878 



4,550 



XV111 



1851-52.— Continued. 


Quantity in 
lbs. 


Value in 
lis. 


3. Tinjn'EYELLY to United Kingdom 


2,476,450 
361,834 
6,980,950 

237,700 
32,100 
45,000 

1 10,134,034 


346,703 
50,657 
977,333 

33,278 
4,494 
6,300 

1,418,765 


„ Penang, Singapore, and 


„ Indian French Ports 

Total 



4. Malabar 



to United Kingdom 

Maldive Islands 

Mauritius and Bourbon... 

Bombay 

Travancore 



Total. 



5. Canaea 



to Arabian Gulf- 
Bombay, 



Total. 



350,930 
730 
6,300 
929,740 
29,092 


72,064 
138 
1,296 
191,215 
3,570 


1,316,842 


268,283 


22,323 
15,767,616 


2,126 
1,496,136 


15,793,938 


1,498,262 




Quantity in 
lbs. 


Value in 
Rs. 


11,184,613 
3,251,700 


1,140,580 
274,841 


344,575 
834,423 
604,823 


33,982 
90,887 
59,371 


16,220,134 

1 


1,599,661 


13,577 
7,035 


1,237 
640 


20,612 


1,877 



1852-53. 



1. Fort St. George to United Kingdom. 

„ China 



Penang, Singapore, and 

Malacca 

Bengal 

Indian French Ports 



2. VlZAGAPATAM 



to United Kingdom. 
Bengal 



Total. 



3. South Arcot to United Kingdom I 66,000 I 9,240 



XIX 


1852-53.— Continued. 


Quantity in 
lbs. 


Value in 
.Us. 


4. Tinnevellt to United Kingdom 

„ Ceylon 

„ Penang, Singapore, and 
Malacca 


4,863,007 
1,266,875 

305,300 
44,350 
45,112 


680,821 
177,362 

1 V7CS ASV7 

42,714 
6,209 
6,300 


Total 


16,299,046 


2,283,843 


448,000 
31,944 
1,440 
1,512 
2,352,000 
880 
55,200 


86,839 
6,871 
237 
296 
420,167 
145 
9,010 


TVTa.ldivp 1 slants 


„ Mauritius and Bourbon 






Total 


2,893,976 


523,565 



Can ABA 


to Arabian Gulf... 




34,272 


3,404 








40,511,917 


4,241,369 


»» 


Travancore 




22,041 


2,112 






Total 


40,568,230 


4,246,885 



1853-54. 


Quantity in 
lbs. 


Value in 
Us. 


Poet St. Geobgke to United Kingdom 

„ Penang, Singapore, and 

Malacca 

„ Bengal 

„ Indian French Ports 

Total 

. Tiwxevelet to United Kingdom 


4,009,526 

146,100 
323,200 
207,300 


465,991 

17,464 
34,457 
20,007 


4,686,126 


537,919 


4,471,850 
693,403 
2,480,400 
59,250 


626,059 
96,077 
347,25S 
8,295 




„ Indian French Ports 


Total 


7,704,903 


1,077,687 



s 



4 



XX 



1853-54.— Continued. 


Quantity in 
lbs. 


Talue in 
Us. 


3. Malabar to United Kingdom 

„ Arabian Gulf 

., Germany 

„ Bombay 

Cutch 

„ Indian French Ports 

Total 

4. Caisara to Arabian Gulf. 

Total 


222,608 
3,200 

1,338 
1,457,410 
2,440 
980 
1,365 
63,420 


45,778 
659 

OA ftOQ 

275 
299,477 
372 
202 
146 
7,159 


1,850,121 


374,091 


60,428 
17,024,259 


5,071 
1,790,614 


17,0S4,687 


1,795,685 






. . 

1854-55. 


Quantity in 
lbs. 


Value in 
Rs. 


1. Fort St. George to United Kingdom 


1,602,505 

1,081,000 
752,250 
30,000 
41,100 


157,219 

113,973 
82,861 
4,800 
4,768 


,> Penang, Singapore, and 


M Bengal 




m Indian French Ports 


Total 


3,506,855 


363,621 


2 1* rV"WT?"V7T , T T V 4-r\ TTr\i fi-vr! 1T{ni«ilA»i 


6,351,930 
1,038,977 
1,711,500 

985,500 
37,500 
217,125 
473 


877,604 
145,457 
239,610 

137,970 

5,250 
30,398 
67 


„ Ceylon 




» Penang, Singapore, and 


Iudian French Ports 


»» Travancore 


Total , 


10,343,005 


1,436,356 



xxi 



1854-55.— Continued. 



3. Malabar 



to United Kingdom 

Prance 

MaLdive Islands 

Bombay 

Concan 

Travancore 

Total. 




Yalue in 
Rs. 



10,085 
6,664 
95 
1,209 
453 
5,511 

24,017 



4. Cattara 



to Arabian Gulf 

Ceylon. 

Bombay 

Total. 



' 25,439 
45,202 
12,804,668 



12,875,307 



2,287 
3,937 
1,289,207 

1,295,431 



1855-56. 


Quantity in 


Yalue in 


lbs. 


Rs. 


1. 


Fort St. George 


to United Kingdom 


1,810,600 


163,488 




»» 




54,000 


6,000 




5' 


Penang, Singapore, and 






Malacca 


571,425 


54,752 




it 




215,900 


30,084 






Total 


2,651,925 


254,322 


o 

— . 


TiNNEVELLY 




2,848,516 


398,804 




55 


Ceylon 


1,200,146 


168,126 






Penang, Singapore, and 










480.607 


67,284 




J» 




430,200 


60,228 




«• 




250 


35 






Total 


4,959,719 


694,477 


3. 


Malabar 


to United Kingdom 


133,272 


26,706 








46,800 


7,700 






Prance 


1,800 


370 








1,250 


257 






Bombay 


352,120 


72,418 








6,960 


1,348 






Total 


542,202 


108,799 






s 2 







xxu 



1855-56.— Continued. 


Quantity in 
lbs. 


Yalue in 
Ks. 


4. Canara 


to Arabian Gulf... 




1,148 
12,858,356 
114 


120 






1,463,611 
22 




















Total 


12,859,618 


1,463,753 



1856-57. 



1. Fort St. George to United Kingdom 

„ France 

„ Hamburg 

„ Penang, Singapore, and 

Malacca 

„ Bengal 

Total 



Quantity in 


Yalue in 


lbs. 


Rs. 


6,190,844 


722,006 


5,999 


720 


69,000 


8,625 


3,299 


550 


563,500 


78,098 


6,832,642 


809,999 



2. TlNKRYELLY 



to 





13,287,731 

2,404,200 
1,003,200 
240,000 

229,500 
127,125 


1,865,952 
336,588 
140,448 
33,600 

32,130 
17,797 






Penang, Singapore, and 
Indian French Ports 

Total 


17,291,756 


2,426,515 



Malar ar 


to United Kingdom 


118,727 


22,842 


5> 


Arabian Gulf 


410 


82 


SJ 


Maldive Islands 


436 


74 


»» 


Bombay 


1,065,218 


216,358 






982 


191 


>» 


Travancore 


5,920 


1,218 




Total .... 


1,191,693 


240,765 



4. Canara 



to Bombay. 



XX111 







1857-58. 


Quantity in 


Yalue in 










lbs. 


Es. 


L 


Foet St. Geoege 


to 




5,533,100 


707,188 




>» 






i Pitt ^nn 












55,500 


6,978 




>» 




Penang, Singapore, and 










102,300 


16,243 




»» 






1,887,508 


267,145 








Total 


9,233,708 


1,216,993 


3. 


VlZAGAPATAM 


to 




40,929 1 
1 


3,110 


3. 


Rajahmundet 


to 




202,800 


28,734 




»» 






5,100 


888 




» 




Bengal 


18,456 


?U28 








Total 


226,356 


29,750 


4. 


Mastjlipatam 


to 




31,500 


3,690 


5. 


Nelloee 






24,887 

l 


2,716 


6. 


TlNJfEVELLT 


to 




4,646,846 


650,558 








Ceylon 


1,928,503 


269,990 










651,600 


91,224 




» 






2,586,000 


362,040 










351,000 


49,140 










425,000 


59,500 








Penang, Singapore, and 


6,846 










48,902 










525,390 


73,542 










696,000 


97,440 








Total 


11,859,239 


1,660,280 



7. Malabae 



to 





98,293 


19,653 


France 


14,194 


2,833 


Maldive Islands 


164 


33 




147,282 


29,438 




2,305 


461 


Total 


262,237 


52,423 



XXIV 



8. Cast asa 



1857-58.— Continued. 



to United Kingdom. 
Bombay 



Total. 



Quantity in 
lbs. 



862,226 
32,474,317 



33,336,543 



1858-59. 


Quantity in 
lbs. 


Value in 
Us. 


„ Indian French Ports 


33,000 
5,528,096 
57,300 


5,340 
957,321 
9,172 




Total 


5,618,396 


971,833 





2. VlZAGAPATAM to Bengal Total I 246 I 25 



Bajahmundey 


to 




46,500 


7,668 


>» 






50,100 


7,014 






Total 


96,600 


14,682 


TlNNEVELLT 


to 


United Kingdom 


6,177,550 


865,046 






Ceylon 


1,634,800 


228,872 








3,596,400 


503,496 






France 


2,386,500 


334,110 








351,600 


49,224 






Indian French Ports 


221,536 


31,022 








19,250 


2,695 






Total 


14,387,636 


2,014,465 


Malabar 


to 


United Kingdom 


14,105 


2,820 






Maldive Islands 


328 


66 








732,690 


146,556 


it 






2,467 


494 








5,922 


1,184 






Total 


755,512 


3 51,120 



XXV 



1858-59— Continued. 



6. Canara 



to United Kingdom 

Arabian Gulf. 

Bombay 

Total. 



Quantity in 


Value in 


lbs. 


Us. 


161,198 


26,068 


1,894 


308 


17,571,060 


2,939,401 


17,734,152 


2,965,777 



1859-60. 



1. Fort St. George to United Kingdom. 

„ France 



2. VlZAGAPATAM 

3. godavery 

4. Kristna 

5. Nellore 

6. TlNNEVELLY 



7. Malabar 



Penang, Singapore, and 

Malacca 

Bengal 

Indian French Ports 



Total. 

to Bengal Total. 

to France Total. 

to Bengal Total. 

to Bengal Total. 



to 



to United Kingdom 

Ceylon 

China 

France 

Holland 

Bengal 

Indian French Ports. 



Total. 



United Kingdom , 
Maldive Islands . 

Bombay , 

Travancore., 



Total. 



Quantity in 
lbs. 


"Value in 
Rs. 


3,104,368 
465,600 


456,886 
63,007 


92,700 
4,136,900 
160,800 


16,108 
725,056 
25,428 


7,960,368 


1,286,485 


40,758 


7,832 


3,000 


360 


198,670 


15,913 


21,075 


2,300 


13,532,022 
907,977 
1,120,516 
1,074,444 
785,509 
1,027,532 
114,546 


1,901,824 
127,834 
293,034 
150,766 
110,040 
144,186 
16,117 


18,582,516 


2,743,801 


26,450 
164 
2,424,141 
10,857 


4,486 
26 

484,710 
2,171 


2,461,612 


491,393 



«. Caxara 



to Bombay Total 



33,254,498 



5,049,C51 



XXVI 





1860-61. 


Quantity in 


Value in 








lbs. 


Rs. 


1. Fort St. George 


to 


TTnitiftd "in scroti 


6,065,919 


774,814 


» 






768,800 


103,953 


>> 




France 


983,700 


106,812 


»» 




Penang, Singapore, and 










Malacca 


36,000 


4,800 


)> 






3,190,610 


421,577 


» 






8,725 


687 








118,500 


14,317 






Total 


11,172,254 


1,426,960 


2. Ganjam 


to 




18,320 




3. VlZAG-APATAM 


to 




108,756 


12,738 


4. Eajahmtjndry 


to 


United Kingdom 


40,794 


4,079 


» 






52,512 


5,302 


»> 




Bengal 


293,398 


28,173 








17,400 


1,808 


» 






123 


15 








404,227 


39,377 


5. Masulipatam 


to 




1 458,070 


36,677 


6. TltfNEVELLY 


to 




7,266,585 


1,019,650 


3> 




Ceylon 


1,013,738 


142,247 


>» 






5,023,415 


704,886 






Bengal 


59,864 


8,400 








26,342 


3,696 






Total 


TO OOA t\ A A 

13,389,944 


1,878,879 


7. Malabar 


to 


United Kingdom 


159,984 


28,072 


»* 




Maldive Islands 


784 


105 


»» 




Mauritius and Bourbon 


5,922 


948 








2,073,439 


425,295 






Total 


2,240,129 


454,420 


8. Canara 


to 




51,029,068 


7,439,822 








1,312 


48 






Total 


51,030,380 


7,439,870 



sxvii 

v.* 

No. 1. — Statement showing the Increase in the Cultivation 
of Cotton in the United States. 





Bales grown in 


Bales consrnr 




r\ 1 lit? I ICoj. 


America. 


1845- 6 


2,100,537 


422,597 


1846- 7 


1,778,651 


427,967 


1847- 8 


2,347,634 


531,772 


1848- 9 


2,728,896 


518,039 


1849-50 


2,096,706 


487,769 


1850-51 


2,355,257 


404,108 


1851-52 


3,015,029 


603,029 


1852-53 


3,262,882 


671,009 


1853-54 


2,930,027 


610,571 


1854-55 


2,847,339 


593,584 


1855-56 


3,527,845 


652,739 


1856-57 


2,939,519 


702,138 


1857-58 


3,113,962 


595,562 


1858-59 


3,851,081 


760,218 


1859-60 


4,825,924 


810,343 


1860-61 


3,866,000 


843,740 



The shipping season in America commences from the 1st September, 
and the above tables are made up from 1st September to 31st August. 



* For the data furnished in this portion of the Appendix, the compiler is in- 
debted to H. A. Kobinson, Esq.., of Madras. 



XXV111 



1860 


2,570,759 
101,623 
9,929 
110,009 
562,674 


3,363,991 
609,000 


1859 


2,034,991 
124,676 
6,809 
101,410 
510,603 


2,328,439 
436,017 


1858 


1,854,004 
106,319 
7,406 
105,422 
357,697 


2,430,848 
343,602 


1857 

1,478,437 
175,078 
11,016 
75,528 
631,378 


2,421,487 
337,196 


1856 

1,753,295 
122,411 
11,320 
111,960 
463,932 


2,467,918 
360,800 


1855 

1,621,405 
134,838 
8,770 
115,002 
395,490 


2,275,553 
316,910 


1854 

1,667,509 
107,487 
8,746 
81,218 
308,178 


2,173,138 
317,152 


1853 

1,532,034 
132,245 
9,549 
105,494 
485,395 


2,264,717 


CO 


1852 


1,784,388 
144,442 
10,174 
189,335 
213,183 


2,341,522 
282,516 


1851 


1 

1,396,168 
108,648 
8,982 
64,015 
325,662 


i, 903,475 
268,617 


1850 


Bale 3 
1,181,956 

171,221 

5,770 

79,401 

299,142 


1,737,490 


270,737 



o 

p, 



XXIX 



1861 


32,800 
6,450 
4,109 


1 


1860 


8 8 8 

rH Tft ,h 

eg co ^ 


1 § 
1 co 

I s " 


1859 


36,674 
4,043 
3,417 


-rj» 
CO 
rH 


1858 


31,336 
6,140 
4,115 


41,591 


1857 


25,952 
6,981 
4,846 


37,779 


1856 


32,422 
5,400 
5,656 


CO 

€ 


1855 


30,304 
5,313 
4,702 


40,319 


1854 


29,360 
3,994 
4,129 


37,483 


1853 


27,114 
3,739 
4,822 


35,675 


1852 


28,855 
2,972 
4,636 


CO 
CO 

co" 

CO 


1851 


24,460 
3,706 
3,784 


31,950 


1850 


Bales 
20,704 
3,362 
5,037 


29,103 


Brazil, Egypt-") 
ian, &c. $ 

Total 



XXX 



1861 


rH 

OS XO 


1860 


£ o 


1859 


Hlffi Hjet 
00 XO 

CO 


1858 


oo «f 

43 

xo xo 


1857 


oo xo 
o o 

H|« H|ff< 

CO <M 


1856 


OS « 

S 3 

CO |^ 


1855 


00 XO 

rf co 


xo 

00 

i— i 


£ 4f 
o o 

43 43 
-W -Hi 
CO CM 


1853 


00 

o o 

H|« rl|CT 
CO (M 


1852 


!>. XO 

o o 

4= 43 
CO 


1851 


o o 

H|« Hi* 

CO CM 


1850 


s s 





xxxi 



VI. 

METEOROLOGICAL AVERAGES 

Deduced from twenty years observations at the Madras 
Observatory \ 



1841 to 1861. 


Atmospheric 
pressure re- 
duced to 32°. 


Mean 
Tempe- 
rature. 


Wet Bulb 

Ther- 
mometer. 


Dew 
Point. 


Per-cent- 
aj?e of 
Humid- 
ity. 


i 

Pain 
Pali. 






too 


b9 5 


dQ'Cl 

DO D 


/o 


U yo 




29-970 


76*9 


70-9 


68*0 


75 


0-25 




29*903 


8i-6 


74-6 


72*0 


76 


0*42 




29-825 


84*2 


78-0 


75-6 


76 


0-67 




29-729 


86-4 


78-5 


75-5 


71 


2-26 




29-698 


86-5 


77-1 


73-3 


66 


1-73 




29*715 


84-8 


76-5 


73*1 


69 


3-60 




29751 


83-8 


76*6 


73-7 


72 


4-37 




29-779 


83'3 


76-6 


73*9 


74 


4-54 


October 


29-849 


80-6 


75*9 


74-0 


81 


11-37 




29*932 


77-6 


72*5 


70-2 


79 


12-73 


December 


29-977 


75-6 


70-2 


67-5 


77 


5-73 




29-844 


81-3 


74-7 


71-9 


75 


48-63 



The preceding table contains the mean or average results 
of a series of hourly observations continued for twenty- 
years, viz., from 1841 to 1861. The cistern of the Baro- 
meter is twenty-seven feet above the mean sea level. It- 
appears upon inspection of the column of atmospheric pres- 
sure, that after being duly corrected to the usual standard 
temperature of 32° Fahrenheit, the Barometer reads highest 



xxxii 



in January, and lowest in June ; which are respectively the 
coolest and hottest months in the year. As at all other 
• tropical stations, the diurnal variations of the Barometer are 
here found to be so regular in their recurrence, that there 
are very few days in the year on which the atmospheric tides 
are not plainly discernible. The highest readings- occur 
about 9^ a. m. The mercury then commences falling, and 
arrives at its lowest minimum a little before 4 p. m. The 
secondary maximum and minimum occur during the night, 
at 10 p. m. and 3^ a. m. respectively, but are far less marked 
than those observed during the day. The greatest daily 
range occurs in March, and the least in December. The 
mean temperature, although somewhat higher at Madras 
than at many other parts of the Presidency, is subject to 
such small changes, that the severe extremes which else- 
where prove so prejudicial to health are never experienced. 

The Dew Point, or Temperature at which rain would 
begin to fall if the air were suddenly cooled down thereto, 
does not rise and fall conformably to the temperature ; for 
though its greatest depression below the Dry Bulb (13° *2), 
occurs during the hottest month, June, the least difference 
(6° '6) falls in October, when the temperature nearly agrees 
with the average of the whole year. The per-centage of 
Humidity changes but slightly ; the average amount of 
aqueous vapour in the atmosphere being exactly three- 
fourths of the whole quantity sustainable thereby. The 
average Rain-fall is deduced from observations extending 
over a period of fifty-two years, viz., from 1804 to 1807, and 
again from 1813 to 1860. The dryest year on record was 
1832, when only 18i inches of rain were collected: the 
greatest quantity fell in 1827, when nearly 89 inches were 
recorded. In October, 1857, not less than 37f inches fell ; 
while no shower occurred throughout the first five months of 
1860. By summing up separate portions of this column, it 
will be found, that under ordinary circumstances only about 
a tenth part of the year's rain falls during the first five 
months, but a full half at the setting in of the N. E. Mon- 
soon, in October and November. It is also worthy of re- 
mark, that, whereas in Europe a rain gauge placed on the 
ground invariably collects more than one elevated some 



XXX111 



forty or fifty feet, in India the case is reversed. The differ- 
ence is slight, but the upper gauge receives, more than the 
lower one. 

As regards the Wind nothing very definite can yet be 
pronounced, in consequence of the imperfect instrumental 
registration employed, which has rendered the past observ- 
ations scarcely worthy of reduction. It is however certain 
that the prevalent notion as to the force of the wind in the 
tropics is a vastly exaggerated one, and that the daily average 
of pressure or velocity is much less than in England. The 
general laws as to direction are so strongly marked as to be 
evident to the most casual observer of natural phenomena. 
The north-east monsoon, heralded by heavy rain, sets in 
about the end of October, and blows pretty steadily, but not 
strongly except during accidental gales, until February. 
South and south-east winds prevail from then until May, 
in which month some of the most violent storms on record 
have occurred. The long but mild four months' reign of the 
South-west monsoon then becomes fairlv established. The 
scorching westerly or land winds, which blow in the fore- 
noon in May, are relieved by a refreshing sea breeze, which, 
commencing about noon, continues until evening. The gene- 
ral tendency of the wind when changing, is, to veer round 
in a direct order, i. e. following the course of the Sun, or 
E. S. W. IN". E. During rough or unsettled weather this 
order is reversed, being retrogade, or E. N. W. S. E. ; and 
frequent instances might be adduced, when with calm fine 
weather at Madras, rain and stormy weather within one or 
two hundred miles distance, has been plainly indicated, by 
no other mark than a retrogade change in the direction of 
the wind. 

N. E. POGSOJNJ", 

Government Astronomer. 



xxxiv 



VII. 

BEING A BRIEF REPORT UPON THE COTTON EXHIBITED AT 
THE MADRAS EXHIBITION OF 1859. 

BY HOWARD B. MONTGOMERY, M.D., &c, REPORTER ON FIBRES. 

At the request of Mr. "Wheeler, and under the sanction 
of the Hon'ble Mr. Morehead, President of the Exhibition 
Committee, I have drawn up the following abstract from the 
remarks on the Cotton Fibres examined by me as Eeporter 
on the Fibres exhibited at the Madras Exhibition of 1859. 

The objects I purpose here displaying are : — 
(1.) The place of production of each specimen ; 
(2.) The name of the Exhibitor; 

(3.) The quality of each specimen as to colour, strength, 
lustre, general preparation, and suitability for ex- 
port to England or elsewhere. 

These appear to be the items which are of the greatest 
interest in connection with Mr. Wheeler's labours, and I 
defer to a future opportunity other points of inquiry in con- 
nection with the general topic of Cotton Cultivation in this 
Presidency. 

1 may premise that at the Exhibition of 1859 there were 
42 Exhibitors who furnished 53 specimens of Cotton, as will 
be seen by the following tabular statements, in the prepar- 
ation of which I was much assisted by my friend Dr. Hunt- 
er, Superintendent of the School of Arts. 

It will be observed however that in the following tables 
there are three specimens of Silk Cotton alluded to which do 
not properly come under further review at present. They 
appear only in consequence of their being included in the 
printed Catalogues of the Exhibition under the heading 
G-ossypium Species. In them they were numbered 6470 — 
6497 and 6498. 



xxxvi 



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xlviii 



An analysis of the foregoing remarks will show that the 
following places were represented as supplying Cotton. 

Of the 53 specimens exhibited : — 
Salem supplied 8, of which one was Nankeen Cotton be- 
sides four foreign species. 
3, of which all were unfit for export. 
6, including one specimen of thread. 

3, „ two foreign species. 

1, (uncleaned specimen) doubtful species. 

2, both unfit for export. 
10, including two good foreign varieties. 

2, indigenous species only. 
2, one exotic, one native. * 

1, of doubtful character. 

4, of which one was exotic. 

2, including one good Nankeen. 

5, „ three of foreign species. 

3, all indigenous. 
1, 



Nagpore 
Chingleput 
Trichinopoly 
G-oa 

Vizianagram 
Madura 
Cuddapah 
Bellary 
Paulghaut 
Hyderabad 
G-untoor 
Hai chore Dooab 
Kurnool 
Vizagapatam 



of native origin. 



Total 53—15 foreign— -11 doubtful, and 27 indi- 
genous. 

As regards the nature of the Cottons exhibited the fol- 
lowing may be observed as to the productions of each dis- 
trict on the foregoing list. 

To contrast the contributions of all districts it would per- 
haps be better to tabulate the sources, and varieties of sup- 
ply. By doing this we may gain some insight into two 
points of importance, firstly, as to the proved capability of 
certain districts to produce exotic Cotton, and secondly, as 
to the nature of it, if so cultivated, and also of the indi- 
genous Cotton now under review as exhibited. 

In the following we therefore see the place of supply of all 
Cottons ; the number of these which were of exotic species 
and of the varieties of native Cotton ; and, as regards both 
descriptions, the suitability or otherwise of these for ex- 
portation. The points relied on in this respect were the 
length of staple and the cleaned or uncleaned condition of 
the sample; for unless satisfactory in these respects the 
fibre could not be recommended as a profitable export, or to 
be relied on as such. 



xlix 



Table of 15 . Supplying Districts, showing the number of 
Samples Exhibited-, and the proportion of these fit 
and unfit, respectively, for Exportation. 



Producing Dis- 

TEICTS. 



Salem 

Nagpore 

Chingleput 

Trichinopoly 

Goa 

Viziauagram 

Madura 

Cuddapah 

Bellary 

Paulghaut 

Hydrabad 

Guntoor 

Raichoor Dooab 

Kurnool 

Vizagapatam 



Fit for export. 
Unfit fordo.... 



Total Exhibit, 



Imported 
Species. 



pq 



DOUBTPUL. 



15 



1 


1 

thread 




Indi- 
ge- 
nous. 



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8 unfit ; iU 

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2 unfit; z 

1 fit } „ 
1 unfit; z 
1 fit I , 

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3 unfitj 4 
1 fit > 9 
1 unfit; * 
fit ") - 
5 unfit; D 
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3 unfit; 6 

fit ) , 

1 unfit ; 1 



18 
35 



53 



1 



To summarize the above it may be said that about 73 per 
cent, of the exotic Cottons were fit for export — the 4 unfit 
specimens only wanting additional care in preparation : 

Of the doubtful species nearly 45 per cent, were fit for 
export, including one of very good thread. 

Of the indigenous Cottons only 2 specimens — or 7i per 
cent, only were found worthy of recommendation. 

The cause of this was three-fold, and these items may be 
enumerated as exemplifying the three great defects in native 
Cotton and native production. 

1st. Short staple (only to be obviated by improved culture 
and the introduction of exotic varieties, or by hybridizing 
native Cotton with the pollen of foreign produce). 

2ndly. Partial or total absence of cleaning (not only from 
seeds but from leaves, sand, and dirt, either intentionally in- 
troduced or accidentally acquired). 

3rdly. The harsh and curled fibre (due to the natural 
shortness of it and to want of irrigation of the crop) . 

The standard of excellence was perhaps pitched higher at 
the time of the exhibition than it would now be, when there 
is extensive demand for all staples. But, unless marked 
improvement should be effected on the points above indi- 
cated, native Cotton can never compete with exotic Cotton 
carefully grown even in India. 

It is worthy of remark that cost of production formed no 
item of the information placed at my disposal by exhibitors : 
and in the absence of this and of positive means of knowing 
the market value of each kind of Cotton, I am unable to do 
more than institute an arbitrary distinction between the de- 
cidedly saleable and the probably unsaleable commodity. 



As to the classification by varieties contained in the last 
table, I should add that in many instances (as the table 
itself shows) no reliable conclusion could be arrived at, and 
the distinct species of 34 of the 53 specimens could not be 
determined. Of these however 9 appeared to be foreign 
varieties and 25 indigenous. This conclusion was arrived at 
from a careful examination of the fibre, seeds, &c, of each 
specimen. 

Some of the Cottons exhibited were beautiful articles : 
and if large quantities of equal quality could be produced, 



li 



the j would command ready and good sale. But, in exhi- 
bitions such as that now under review there is no test 
applied as to the quantity grown, and a carefully prepared 
" garden specimen " may be rewarded, although if the cost 
of its production were known it would be found to be worse 
than useless as an export intended to realize a profit on cost 
of production, &c. To this and other branches of the sub- 
ject I shall advert hereafter, but I feel it right now to guard 
my readers against drawing other than general conclusions 
from the facts here recorded. The producing power of cer- 
tain districts may be apparently overstated : as in the case 
of Salem, which was represented by one exhibitor chiefly, 
and some of the specimens from his plantation were three 
or four times brought to notice with approval. 

The very fine quality of the Bourbon Cotton produced by 
this gentleman, of the Egyptian by the Honourable Mr. 
Morehead and Captain Templar, and the excellence of all 
specimens of Brazil Cotton, should not be lost sight of by 
intending Cultivators. Nor should it be forgotten that 
Nankeen Cotton of good quality was exhibited from the dis- 
tricts of Salem and Guntoor. 

As this occasion presents me with a suitable opportunity 
for doing so, I desire to record the following awards at the 
exhibition for the article of true Cotton fibre. 

Captain Templar 1st prize, 1st class medal for Cotton. 

Messrs. Fischer and Co. ( 2nd prize ) do do do 

Hon. W. Morehead, Esq. \ equal j do do do 

Messrs. Fischer and Co. Hon. mention for Nankeen Cotton. 

E. S. Child, Esq. do for Cotton. 

Hanamunt Eow do for Cotton. 

Narrayadoo do for Nankeen Cotton. 

Local Committee of Madura do for Cotton. 

E. N. Taylor, Esq. do for introducing 3 

varieties of exotic Cotton, only want- 
ing in careful preparation. 

Local Committee, Chingleput, Honourable mention for Cot- 
ton thread. 

Howard B. Montgomery, M.D. 
Reporter on Fibres for the Madras Exhibit ion of\%K>§. 

Fort St. George, Madras, 1861. 

u 



INDEX. 



K. B. — The numerals refer not to tJie Pages but to the No. of 
the Paragraphs. 



Adonie Talook, 88. 

Alabama, 107; suitableness of the 
soil to the growth of Cotton, 143 ; 
the Professor of Chemistry re- 
quests information regarding the 
Cotton plant, 304. 

Alluvial soil, description of 16, 47 ; 
cultivated with Cotton, 48 ; re- 
sult of the second season, 55 ; fail- 
ure of the Cotton crop, 94 ; un- 
suitable to the growth of American 
Cotton, 272 ; the component parts, 
355. 

America, North, climate of, 8; plant- 
ers engaged to instruct the natives 
of India in Cotton cultivation, 35 ; 
six evils to be guarded against, 72 ; 
rising temperature during the Cot- 
ton growing season, 108 ; man- 
ner of using the American saw 
gin, 130 ; early cultivation of Cot- 
ton, 143 ; nature of the lands on 
which Cotton is grown, 145 ; man- 
ner of manuring, 146 ; the life of 
a Cotton planter, 150 ; advantages 
of gins, 156 ; rent of lands, 157; 
minimum prices of Cotton, 158; 
labourers compared with those of 
India, 159. 

American Cotton, soil adapted to, 16 ; 
question of ridging, 54 ; advant- 
ages possessed by India in the cul- 
tivation, 72; its superiority to 
Indian, 83 ; price, note to 84 ; 
distribution of seed among the col- 
lectors, 105 ; two methods of cul- 
tivation, 110; choice of soil re- 



quired, 113 ; preparation of the 
lands for the seed, 114; plough- 
ing and hoeing during the grow- 
ing season, 115 ; distance between 
the rows, 116; treatment of the 
plant as an annual and rotation of 
crops, 117; its profitable cultiva- 
tion, 118 ; plans for extending the 
cultivation, 119 ; order of Court 
of Directors for 6000 bales, 121; 
failure of the purchase system, 
124; early cultivation in America, 
143 ; minimum price, 158 ; re- 
duction of land-tax is not bene- 
ficial to its culture, 160 ; unfitness 
of the churka, 170 ; sale at Coim- 
batore of some damaged, note to 
177; successful culture in Court- 
allum, 184; unsuccessful culture 
at Sevacausey, Yirdooputty, and 
Aroopoocottah, 185 ; Mr. Finnie's 
views on extending the cultivation, 
203 ; his matured judgment 
against its culture, 204 ; Dr. 
Wight's opinion, 210 ; Mr. Fin- 
nie convinced of the folly of culti- 
vating it in India, 211 ; liable to 
failure in any part of the Madras 
Presidency, 227 ; causes of failure, 
228 ; Dr. "Wight's cultivation by 
irrigation, 242; Mr. Thomas's 
method to induce the Ryots to ex- 
tend its cultivation, 258 ; Mr. 
Lees' cultivation, 259 ; discussion 
concerning the purchase on Go- 
vernment account from Ryots of 
Tinnevelly, 260; successful cul- 



INDEX. 



liii 



tivation by the Ryots of Coimba- 
tore, 266 ; compared with the cul- 
ture of Indian Cotton, 270; steady 
market required to extend the 
growth, 278; Mr. Lees' partial 
success in Tinnevelly, 280 ; Coro- 
mandel coast suitable to the 
growth, 281 ; Government pur- 
chases ceased, 287 ; method of 
cultivation in Coimbatore, 360 ; 
diseases, 362 ; general conclusions, 
371, 373. 

American plant, its habits, 95 ; sea- 
sons, 96 ; nature of the lands in 
America on which it is grown, 
145 ; its average spread, 359. 

Anderson, Dr., distributes foreign 
Cotton seeds at Madras, 32 ; re- 
sults of his labours, 33. 

Arbuthnott, Hon. D., gives Brazil- 
ian Cotton seeds to Dr. Mudge, 
299. 

Arbuthnott and Co., Messrs., concur 
in the opinion of Mr. Finnie re- 
specting the use of the gin, 181. 

Archipelago, 143. 

Arcot, North, 9 ; soil unfavourable, 
300. 

Arcot, South, 9, 301. 

Arkwright's machinery, 31. 

Aroopoocottah, hire of a temporary 
gin-house, 172; difficulties of 
conducting the ginning operations, 
179 ; unsuccessful culture of Ame- 
rican Cotton, 185 ; meeting of the 
Cotton Brokers, 187; Cotton 
plantation established by Mr. 
Finnie, 203. 

Assessment, general rate of, 15 ; Dr. 
"Wight's propositions for reducing 
it, 121 ; Mr. Finnie' s opinion on 
the reduction, 160 ; Marquis of 
Tweeddale suggests remission on 
Cotton fields, 218. 

Atlas Press, 61. 

Bangalore, Cotton imported from 

Bellary, 330. 
Banking, mode of, 52. 
Bayles, Captain, is sent to America 

to engage Cotton Planters, 35. 



Bellary, 5, 9 ; rate of assessment, 
note to 15; one of the principal 
Cotton Districts, 17 ; trial of 
American saw gins, 34 ; recom- 
mended by Mr. Simpson as suit- 
able to the growth of Cotton, 80 ; 
proposed operations of the Plant- 
ers, 86 ; Mr. Morris despatched 
to, 87 ; his report, 88 ; the Col- 
lector reports favourably on the 
Dharwar saw gin, 252 ; failure of 
the experiment of Egyptian Cot- 
ton by the Collector, 298; the 
Collector's detailed report, 330 ; 
of soil, 331 ; geology and topo- 
graphy, 332 ; climate, 333 ; seed, 
334 ; character of the Cotton 
plant, 335. 

Bengal, construction of Mather's 
churka in, 244. 

Bezwarah, 294. 

Bhooj, 228. 

Bird, Mr., requests Dr. "Wight to 
send New Orleans Cotton seed, 
260. 

Bishop, Mr., reports favourably 
upon the Cottage saw gin, 251. 

Black soil, description of, 6 ; com- 
pared with Bed soil, 42 ; given to 
Mr. Morris and Mr. Simpson, 48 ; 
results of the second season, 55 ; 
unsuitableness to American Cot- 
ton, 215; comparative growth of 
the Native and American Cotton 
in Coimbatore, 266 ; other crops 
grown in, 315, 344, 355. 

Board of Revenue, solicit the pur- 
chase of Dharwar gins, 252 ; sup- 
port the suggestion of the Col- 
lector of Tanjore, 256 ; approve 
the successful cultivation of Egypt- 
ian Cotton by Mr. Shubrick, 298. 

Bombay, Cotton exported to the 
Directors, 32; transfer of Mr. 
Hawley, 46 ; of Mr. Simpson, 81 ; 
permission to act as Cotton Agent 
is given to Mr. Simpson by the 
Government, 139 ; Cotton import- 
ed from Coimbatore, 367. 

Bourbon Cotton, 20 ; its origin, 21 ; 
compared with Indian and New 



u 2 



INDEX. 



Orleans, 22 ; introduced into the 
Madras Presidency, 33 ; method 
of cultivation, note to 34 ; opinion 
of the Ryots, 36 ; growth com- 
pared, 56 ; report of the Brokers 
upon the samples, 60; treated as 
a biennial plant, 64 ; Dr. Wight 
cultivates by irrigation, 242 ; the 
action of the cottage gin, 247 ; 
difficulty in separating the wool, 
277 ; successful culture in the 
People's Park, 299 ; the average 
height of plants in Coimbatore, 
359. 

Brazilian Cotton — See Pernambuco. 

Brokers, Cotton, report upon Dr. 
"Wight's Cotton, 57 ; are preferred 
to Zemindars in the use of the 
gins, 165 ; visit the scene of Mr. 
Finnie's operations at Aroopoo- 
cottah, 173 ; their testimony that 
dirty Cotton was more profitable 
than clean Cotton, 174; their 
transactions with the Ryots, Chet- 
ties, and Agents, 175 ; adultera- 
tion of the Cotton by the " Devil's 
dust" system, 177; their meet- 
ing in Tinnevelly, 187; their 
mode of purchase, 213. 

Brooke, Mr., 365. 

Brown Loam — See Red soil. 

Cadell, Mr., 303. 

Calcutta, Mr. Finnie's exportation of 
a thresher from, 131 ; Cotton yarn 
exported to Vizagapatam, 292. 

Calicoes, Indian, stoppage of de- 
mand, 31. 

Campbell, Mr. D., purchases the gin- 
house at Coimbatore, 255 ; dies, 
ib., 286. 

Canara, North, description of, 5 ; 

enjoys the S. W. Monsoon, 7, 9 ; 

Mr. Simpson's report upon, 76 ; 

Cotton imported from Bellary, 364. 
Canara, South, 5, 366. 
Cape Comorin, 4 ; junction of the 

two Ghauts at, 5 ; limit of the 

Carnatic, 295. 
Caresal soil — See Black soil. 
Carnatic, description of, 5; enjoys 



the influence of the K. E. Mon- 
soon, 7 ; its districts, 9 ; its mean 
temperature and mean falls of 
rain, 99; physical feature, 106; 
season for sowing Cotton, 107; 
nature of the climate, 109 ; lead- 
ing principles of Cotton culture in, 
275 ; extension of, 295. 

Ceylon, Merchants establish Agents 
in Tinnevelly, 162 ; a driving 
machinery for sale in, 166. 

Chamber of Commerce, Madras, 197 ; 
confirm Dr. Wight's valuation of 
Mr. Finnie's samples, 201 ; their 
unfavourable report upon Cottage 
saw gin, 247 ; approve the suc- 
cessful cultivation of Egyptian 
Cotton by Mr. Shubrick, 298. 

Chayroot, discussion concerning the 
renters of, 259. 

Chetties, purchase Cotton from the 
Ryots, 129 ; visit the scene of Mr. 
Finnie's operation at Aroopoo- 
cottah, 173; their transactions 
with the Ryots, Brokers, and 
Agents, 175; their tricks with 
European agents, 178, 213. 

Chingleput, 298. 

Churka, description of the, 25 ; 
American saw gin used at Coim- 
batore in its place, 45 ; Mr. Fin- 
nie's opinion upon, 126 ; his first 
year's proceedings, 141 ; second 
year's proceedings, 163; its un- 
fitness for American Cotton, 170 ; 
Mr. Finnie's third year's opera- 
tions, 187; Mr. Finnie pro- 
nounces in its favour, 205 ; cost 
of cleaning 'Cotton, 208, 254. 

Churka, Mather's description of, 
244. 

Circars, 4 ; districts of, 9 ; establish- | 
ment of two Cotton Farms, 34; >C 
its extent, 290. 

Cochin, 9, 363, 368. 

Coimbatore, 7, 9 ; description of the 
soil, 16 ; one of the principal Cot- 
ton districts, 17 ; introduction of C 
Bourbon Cotton, 33 ; establish- 
ment of a Cotton farm, 34 ; re- G 
moval of the Planters to, 39; Dr. 



INDEX. 



Iv 



Wight's tour through the district, 
44 ; mode of sowing Cotton seed, 
50 ; experiment made by Mr. 
Wroughton, 66 ; Madras Govern- 
ment propose the abandonment of 
Cotton farms, 8*6 ; Dr. Wight's 
new Cotton farms, 90 ; location 
of the farms, 103 ; respective 
prices of Cotton in the market, 
124 ; Mr. Finnie's tour from 
Courtalluni to, 137; trial of cat- 
tle labour and manual labour by 
Dr. Wight, 167; sale of some 
damaged American Cotton, note 
to 177 ; Mr. Finnic refused per- 
mission to extend his operations, 
209 ; favourable report of the 
American planters, 211 ; Dr. 
Wight's system of purchase, 213 ; 
suggestion to relinquish the ex- 
perimental farm by the Marquis 
of Tweeddale, 218 ; by the direct- 
ors, 223 ; Dr. Wight ascribes the 
failure of the Cotton crop to the 
want of humidity, 229 ; Sir H. 
Pottinger directs Dr. Wight to 
break up his establishment, 232 ; 
Dr. Wight resumes his office, 241 ; 
the gin-house sold to Mr. D. 
Campbell, 255 ; Mr. Wroughton's 
collectorate farm at, 257 ; the 
Ryots' successful culture of Ame- 
rican Cotton, 264 ; failure of the 
experiment of Egyptian Cotton by 
the Collector, 298; the Collector's 
report, 354 ; of soil, 355 ; geology 
and topography, 356 ; climate, 
357 ; seed, 358 ; character of the 
Cotton plant, 359 ; method of cul- 
tivation, 360 ; manure, 361 ; dis- 
eases, 362. 
'olaba Press, 61. 

Company, East India, three objects 
sought by, 3 ; three improvements 
required in the Indian Cotton, 
19 ; their efforts upon Cotton 
cultivation, 226. 

^oomptah, Cotton imported from 
Bellary, 330, 364. 

3oorch.ee. a Cotton farm established 
at, 46 ; description of the soil, 65. 



Coorg, 299. 

Coromandel coast, description of, 4 ; 
its distance from the Eastern 
Ghauts, 5 ; season for sowing 
Cotton, 97; Mr. Lees' experiment 
of Cotton cultivation, 279, 281. 

Corrie and Co., Messrs., 202. 

Cotton, better varieties of, 20 ; six 
leading varieties of, 21 ; method 
of separating and cleaning, 24 ; 
experiment of treating the plant 
as a biennial, 64 ; fluctuation of 
the price of land, 157 ; estimate 
of the Brokers upon dirty one, 
1 74 ; adulteration by the " Devil's 
dust " system, 177 ; price of the 
unadulterated, 189 ; difficulty of 
separating the seed, 277 ; export- 
ed to Yizagapatam from Calcutta 
and Madras, 292 ; to Godavery 
from Kristna, 293; to Tanjore 
from Madura and Tinnevellv, 
303; diseases, 312, 325; Cotton 
exported from Bellary to Madras, 
Bangalore, Wallajapet, and 
Coomptah, 330 ; from Kurnool to 
Madras, 339 ; improvements in 
the quality required, 341. 

Cotton cultivation, Hand-book to 1 ; 
rate of assessment, note to 15 ; 
better system of, 23 ; memorial 
drawn by Mr. Rundall, 34 ; pre- 
vailing opinions in the Madras 
Presidency, 36 ; introduction of 
the American system, 44 ; Dr. 
Wight's notes, 49 — 54 ; early 
preparation and sowing required, 
69 ; its cost, 74 ; extension of the 
improved method, 84 ; five prac- 
tical suggestions required, 112; 
proposition for reducing the assess- 
ment of lands, 121 ; Mr. Finnie 
explains to the Ryots the im- 
proved method, 136 ; Mr. Finnie's 
notes, 143 — 160 ; capital required, 
149 ; uncertainty of weather, 154 ; 
expense, 155 ; method of improve- 
ment, 219, 220; Dr. Wight's 
trial by irrigation, 242; Colonel 
Lawford's, 256 ; Mr. Lees' culti- 
vation, 259 ; general survey in 



Ivi 



INDEX. 



the Madras Presidency, 289 ; 
mode of, in Trichinopoly, 302 ; 
in Madura, 310; in Tinnevelly, 
328 ; in. Bellary, 336 ; in Cud- 
dapah, 350 ; in Coimbatore, 360. 

Cotton districts, 17; statistics of, 
18 ; large experiment in early 
sowing throughout, 105. 

Cotton manufacturers, Great Britain, 
their rivalry with native weavers, 
31 ; Mr. Finnie requests permis- 
sion to consult with them, 186; 
they are advised to purchase Cot- 
ton direct from the Byots, 224. 

Cotton, Mr. Finnie' s Tinnevelly, 
196 ; Dr. Wight's report upon it, 
198, 211. 

Cotton seed, high prices demanded 
by the Byots for, 180; process of 
cleaning, 206; high demands at 
Coimbatore, 267 ; distribution of 
the Egyptian among several Col- 
lectors, 298 ; preparation before 
sowing, 308. 

Courtalhim, enjoys both monsoons, 
68; Mr. FinniVs tour, 133; his 
departure from, 137 ; Mr. Fin- 
nie's planting operations, 161 ; 
successful culture of American 
Cotton, 184 ; cessation of Mr. 
Finnie 's operations, 203 ; sanc- 
tion of a small model farm, 216. 

Crop, Cotton, sudden renovation of, 
41 ; keeping down extraneous 
vegetation until the ripening of, 
53 ; comparison of those of the 
four seasons, 65 ; rotation of, 90, 
148 ; successive operations re- 
quired, 150 ; Indian and Georg- 
ian compared, 271. 

Cuddapah, 5, 9 ; description of the 
soil, 16 ; one of the principal Cot- 
ton districts, 17 ; trial of Ameri- 
can saw gin, 34 ; the Collector re- 
ports favourably on Dharwar saw 
gin, 252; failure of the experi- 
ment of Egyptian Cotton by the 
Collector, 298 ; present state of 
Cotton cultivation, 342 ; detailed 
report of Mr. Murray, 343 ; of 
soil, 344 ; weeds, 345 ; geology 



and topography, 346; climate, 
347 ; seed, 348 ; character of the 
Cotton plant, 349 ; mode of cul- 
tivation, 350 ; manure, 351 ; dis- 
eases, 352. 
Cuxton, Mr., 232 ; is requested by 
Dr. "Wight to report upon the 
capability of the coast to produce 
American Cotton, 242. 

Denison, Sir "William, his minute 
upon the improvement of Native 
Cotton, note to 219 ; his queries 
upon Cotton cultivation in Tinne- 
velly, 327. 

Devil's dust system, adulteration of 
Cotton, 177. 

Dharwar, New Orleans Cotton suc- 
cessfully cultivated, 76; success 
of Mr. 'Mercer, 80; Mr. Morris' 
tour through the district, 88 ; 
favourable report of the two 
American planters, 211 ; en- 
couragement afforded for the 
growth of New Orleans Cotton, 
234 ; construction of a gin, 252 ; 
advantages of American Cotton, 
278. 

Directors, Court of, 29 ; endeavour 
to get a supply of Cotton from 
India, 32 ; send a Cotton cleaner 
to the Madras Presidency, 34 ; 
engage ten Planters in America, 
35 ; disapprove of the plan of 
Lord Elphinstone, 39 ; send an 
American saw gin, 45 ; approve 
the sample sent by Dr. "Wight, 
57 ; the suggestions of Mr. Simp- 
son, 81 ; of the Manchester Asso- 
ciation, 105; order for 6000 bales 
of East India Cotton, 120 ; decide 
against the reduction of Assess- 
ment on lands under American 
Cotton cultivation, 123 ; object to 
the use of hand gins, 1 68 ; de- 
cline to permit Mr. Finnie to go 
to England, 186 ; large shipment 
of churkaed Cotton contrary to 
their orders, 199; approve the 
suggestion of Dr. "Wight to try. 
churkaed with the ginned by En- 



INDEX. 



Ivii 



glish spinners, 216 ; their general 
opinions upon the experimental 
culture, 217; their views con- 
cerning the experimental farms, 
222 — 224 ; send some Sea Island 
Cotton seed, 235 ; their measures 
concerning Dr. "Wight and Mr. 
Finnie, 237, 239, 240 ; sanction 
the relief of the chayroot renter 
from interfering with Mr. Lees' 
cultivation, 259 ; their final des- 
patch on Cotton, 287 ; receive 
certain queries regarding Cotton 
by Dr. Mallet, 304. 

Dowlashwarum, 294. 

Drill husbandry, 49, 151. 

Driving Machinery, expenses of, 156 ; 
Mr. Finnie' s proposal for the 
erection, 166 ; sanction for its 
purchase, 167; change in Mr. 
Finnie's views, 168; erected at 
Sevacausey, 207 ; Mr. Finnie's 
last opinion, 238. 

Drought, its effects upon Cotton 
shrub, 42, 70, 360. 

Earle, Mr., reports upon samples of 
Cotton sent to Liverpool, 43, 
45. 

Egypt, treatment of the Sea Island 
Cotton as a biennial, 64 ; irriga- 
tion employed, 110. 

Egyptian Cotton, 20, 21 ; success- 
fully cultivated on the Coromandel 
coast, 279 ; suitability of Ganjam 
to its growth, successful cultiva- 
tion of, 291 ; Mr. Shubrick's, 298 ; 
Dr. Mudge's, 299 

Ellice, Mr. E., 287. 

Ellore, 294. 

Elphinstone, Lord, experiments 
during his governorship, 28 ; re- 
solves upon the removal of the 
American Planters to Salem and 
Coimbatore, 38 ; his suggestions 
adopted by Mr. Fischer, ib. ; re- 
quests Dr. Wight to draw up 
notes upon American system of 
agriculture, 48 ; succeeded by the 
Marquis of Tweeddale, 67. 

Elton, Mr., 237; recommends the 



cultivation of Cotton by irrigation, 

256. 

Errode, Cotton farm established, 39. 

Experimental farms, four, estab- 
lished, 39; arrangements regard- 
ing two, 46 ; distribution of land 
amongst them, 47 ; of soil, 48 ; 
their state in 1843-44, 61 ; ge- 
neral result of the four seasons, 
66 ; their position in 1845, 86 ; 
new ones established in Coimba- 
tore, 90 ; their results, 91 ; con- 
templated establishment of a num- 
ber of small ones, 125 ; stage of 
culture in Tinnevelly, 183 ; gene- 
ral opinions of the Madras Govern- 
ment and Court of Directors, 217 ; 
suggestions to relinquish those in 
Coimbatore by the Marquis of 
Tweeddale, 218 ; by the Directors, 
223 ; Sir H. Pottinger suggests 
that the continuance of them 
would be injurious, 226 ; with- 
drawal of the Government Agency, 
283 ; their state after Dr. Wight's 
departure, 288. 

Finnie, Mr., 28 ; succeeds Mr. Simp- 
son in the Madras Presidency, 87 ; 
reports unfavourably upon the 
Madras district, 89 ; despatched 
to Tinnevelly, ib. ; his labours 
compared with those of Dr. 
"Wight, 126; his first impression 
of Tinnevelly, 127 ; requests per- 
mission to act as Agent, 128 ; re- 
commends the thresher before the 
use of the churka, 131 ; obtains 
saw gins from Dr. Wight, ib. ; 
three points in his career, 132 ; 
his tour to Courtallum, 133; 
allays the fears and suspicions of 
the Eyots, 135 ; explains the im- 
proved method of culture to the 
Eyots, 136 ; his tour to Coimba- 
tore, 137 ; is permitted to act as 
Cotton Agent, 139 ; request the 
Madras Government to remove the 
restriction to ginned Cotton, 140 ; 
his first year's proceedings with 
the churka, &c, 141; receives 



lyiii 



INDEX. 



some queries by the Marquis of 
Tweeddale, 142 ; his notes on 
Cotton cultivation in America and 
India, 143 — 160 ; disappointed as 
an Agent, 162; sells two gins to 
Zemindars, 164; proposes to erect 
a gin -house and cattle -driving 
machinery in Tinnevelly, 166; 
sanctioned, 167 ; changes his 
opinion as regards driving ma- 
chinery, 168 ; explains his in- 
consistencies to the Madras Go- 
vernment, 169 ; his general ob- 
jections to the gins discussed by 
Dr. Wight, 170 ; his proposition 
for erecting a gin-house, 171 ; 
hires a gin-house at Aroopoocot- 
tah, 172 ; erects three gins and a 
thresher, 173; his notes on the 
peculiarities of the Cotton trade 
in Tinnevelly, 175—178 ; his 
statement of the expenses of gin- 
ning, 181 ; requests permission to 
proceed to England, 186; recom- 
mends the introduction of small 
hand threshers and cheap presses, 
190 ; invents a cheap Cotton press, 
195; forwards to the Madras 
Government a sample of Tinne- 
velly Cotton, 196; his letter to 
Government, note ; comparison of 
his system of purchasing Cotton 
with that of Dr. Wight, 200 ; his 
proposed extension of planting 
operations, 263 ; his matured 
judgment against the culture of 
American Cotton or use of the 
American gin, 204 ; refused per- 
mission to extend his operations 
to Coimbatore, 209; his breach 
with Dr. Wight, 210 ; is con- 
vinced of the folly of cultivating 
American Cotton in India, 211; 
his correspondence about growing 
and planting American Cotton, 
213 ; his proceedings disapproved 
by Dr. Wight, 214 ; advises Dr. 
Wight that all his plans have been 
approved by the authorities, 215 ; 
is allowed to remain in Tinne- 
velly to instruct the East Indian 



lads in the use of the gins, 231 ; 
his departure from the Madras 
Presidency, 237 ; his last letter, 
248. 

Fischer, Mr., his Cotton establish- 
ment at Salem, 38 ; adopts the 
suggestion of Lord Elphinstone, 
ib. ; his general views upon Cot- 
ton, 39; reports upon the un- 
suitability of the climate of Salem 
to the growth of Brazilian Cot- 
ton, 299 ; his report upon North 
Canara, 364. 

Fischer and Co., Messrs., Cotton ex- 
porters in Salem, 353. 

Florida, mean falls of rain, 109. 

Foot Eoller, description, 24. 

Ganjam, 9 ; Cotton produce incon- 
siderable but easily increased by 
money advances, 291 ; the soil 
suited to the growth of Egyptian 
Cotton, 298. 

Georgia, a Cotton cleaner sent to the 
Madras Presidency from, 34 ; its 
crops compared with those of 
India, 271 ; its soil with South- 
ern India, 275. 

Ghauts, Eastern, description of, 5, 
7. 

Ghauts, Western, description of, 5 ; 
heavy rains upon, 7, 356. 

Gin -house, its state, 61 ; its ex- 
penses, 56 ; Mr. Finnic' s proposal 
for its erection in Tinnevelly, 166, 
171 ; hire of a temporary one at 
Aroopoocottah, 172 ; erected at 
Sevacausey, 207 ; allowed for the 
use of the Ryots, 233 ; sold to Mr. 
Campbell at Coimbatore, 255. 

Gins, a practical person recommend- 
ed for their exhibition, 80 ; their 
expenses, 156 ; Zemindars pur- 
chase of, 164; their unfitness for 
Indian Cotton, 170 ; difficulties in 
conducting the operations at Aroo- 
poocottah, 179 ; heavy expenses 
incurred, 181; necessity for im- 
proving the construction, 182. 

Godavery district, 9 ; Cotton wool 
exported, 34 ; Cotton supply large, 



INDEX. 



lix 



but insufficient for the wants of 
the district, 293. 

Government, Madras, orders respect- 
ing the Cotton Hand-Book, 2 ; 
efforts of, towards the cultivation 
of Cotton, 34; establishes four 
Cotton Farms, ib. ; appoints Dr. 
Wight to report on the state of 
agriculture in Southern India, 
ib. ; approves the agreements 
made between Dr. Wight and the 
Ryots, 44; requests Mr. Wrough- 
ton to explain the causes of the 
success of his Cotton experiment, 
67 ; proposes his abandonment of 
Cotton farms at Coimbatore, 86 ; 
requested by Dr. Wight to re- 
duce the assessment on lands un- 
der American Cotton cultivation, 
121 ; permits Mr. Finnie to act 
as Cotton Agent, 139 ; removes 
the restrictions upon Mr. Finnie, 
140 ; sanctions the purchase of 
cattle -driving machinery for Mr. 
Finnie, 167; of small hand- 
threshers and presses, 191 ; refers 
the sample of Finnie' s Tinnevelly 
Cotton to Dr. Wight, &c, 197 ; 
refuses permission to Mr. Finnie 
to extend his operation to Coim- 
batore, 209 ; Sir Henry Pottin- 
ger's arrival, 210 ; approves the 
suggestion of Dr. Wight to try 
churkaed Cotton with ginned by 
the English spinners, 215 ; gene- 
ral opinions upon the experimental 
culture, 217; its decision regard- 
ing Dr. Wight reversed by the 
Directors, 239 ; cottage saw gins 
received, 246 ; further purchase, 
252 ; places the Cotton farm in 
Coimbatore under a Duffadar, 257 ; 
refuses the purchases applied for 
by Mr. Bird, 261 ; condemns Dr. 
Wight's reports, 282 ; withdraws 
the agency, 283. 

Grate, evils arising from, 70. 

Grecian Archipelago, 143. 

Guntoor, description of, note to 9 ; 
Cotton exported to the Godavery 
district, 294. 



Hand-Book to Cotton cultivation, 
1 ; method pursued in its com- 
pilation, 2; division of the sub- 
ject matter, 28 s ; leading points of 
the several chapters, 29 ; special- 
ties of the chapters, 30 ; general 
result, 369 ; general conclusions, 
370. 

Hand gins, 253 ; cost of labour, 254. 

Hardy, Mr. Thomas, his report upon 
Cotton trade at Tuticorin, 328. 

Hathaway, Mr., his report upon 
Madura, 305—312. 

Hawley, Mr., comes to Madras, 35 ; 
sent to Tinnevelly, 37 ; removed 
to Coimbatore, 39 ; transferred to 
Bombay, 46. 

Heath, Mr., his successful Cotton 
cultivation at Vizagapatam, 34. 

Hoeing, Dr. Wight's remarks, 51 ; 
manner of, 52 ; practical suggest- 
ion upon it, 115; season for adopt- 
ing it, 152. 

Honore, 365. 

Hughes, Captain, his efforts at Tin- 
nevelly, 33 ; three planters sent 
under his superintendence, 37 ; 
succeeded by Dr. Wight, 41 ; good 
crop of American Cotton obtained 
by him, 211. 

Hughes' Tinnevelly Cotton, 33, 372 ; 
method of cultivating Bourbon 
Cotton, note to 34. 

Hullial, Mr. Simpson's report upon 
it, 78, 365. 

Flurryhur, 80. 

Idler, Mr., 141. 

Inam Commission, its origin, 1 5. 

India, its climate compared with that 
of America, 8 : rivalry between 
its Native weavers and the Cotton 
Manufacturers of Great Britain, 
31 ; ten American Planters sent, 
35 ; treatment of Bourbon variety 
as a biennial, 64 ; advantages in 
the cultivation of American Cot- 
ton, 72 ; remunerative demand re- 
quired, 73 ; characteristics of the 
seasons, 97 ; its climate not too 
hot, but too cold, 106; diminish- 



k 



INDEX. 



ing temperature during the Cot- 
ton growing seasons, 108 ; two 
methods of cultivating American 
Cotton, 110 ; manner of cleaning 
the Cotton, 130; present cultiva- 
tion of Cotton, 143 ; manner of 
manuring, 146 ; of planting, 151 ; 
cheapness of the labour, 159 ; Mr. 
Finnie's judgment against the 
culture of American Cotton and 
use of American gin, 203 ; Dr. 
"Wight's opinion upon the growth 
of American Cotton, 210 ; Sir H. 
Pottinger's experience in the 
various parts of, 228 ; Coimbatore 
Ryots' opinion upon the soil and 
climate, 263 ; Dr. Wight refutes 
the theory that the climate and 
soil are unfitted for American Cot- 

: ton, 269 ; its crops compared with 
those of Mississippi, 271 ; Dr. 
Wight's opinion upon the climate 
of the South, 274. 

Indian Cotton, soil adapted to it, 16 ; 
queries with reference to it, 18; 
improvements required in it, 19 ; 
its varieties, 20 ; its character, 21 ; 
compared with Bourbon and New 
Orleans Cottons, 22 ; efforts to 
extend and improve, 32 ; prevail- 
ing opinion upon it, 36 ; opinion 
of Mr. Morris upon it, 40 ; its 
growth compared, 56; report of 
the Brokers upon the sample, 58 ; 
its inferiority to American Cotton, 
83 ; plans for extending its culti- 
vation, 119; Directors order for 
6000 bales, 120 ; price at which 
Dr. Wight purchased, 124 ; Mr. 
Finnie's opinion upon it, 126 ; 
unfitness of the gin, 170; syste- 
matic adulteration, 175; process 
of cleaning, 206 ; unsuited to the 
American gin, 210; Marquis of 
Tweeddale's plan for improving 
the culture, 219, 220- Dr. 
Wight cultivates by irrigation, 
242 ; failure of the crop in Coim- 
batore, 266 ; its culture compared 
with the American, 270 ; unsuit- 
ableness of Madras, 279; of North 



Arcot, 300 ; general conclusions, 
372, 374; political and com- 
mercial prospects, 375. 
Irrigation required in cultivating 
American Cotton, 110; experi- 
ments by it, 111; Dr. Wight's 
cultivation of American Cotton, 
242; Colonel Lawford's cultiva- 
tion in Tanjore, 256. 

Jaffna, new driving machinery for 

sale, 166 ; purchased, 207. 
Jeypore, 292. 
Juggernaut, 290. 

Kenrick, Mr., his efforts at Madras, 

281. 
Kentucky, 143. 

Kleinknecht, Mr., report upon his 
experimental culture, 365. 

Krishna district, 9 ; Cotton exported 
to Godavery, 293 ; Mr. Thorn- 
hill's report, 294. 

Krishna, river, 4, 290. 

Kunkur, 77, 113, 319. 

Kurnool, 9 ; failure of the experi- 
ment of Egyptian Cotton by the 
Collector, 298 ; extent of land 
under Cotton cultivation, 339. 

Kutch, 228. 

Labour, cattle, 167. 

Labour, manual, loss incurred by 
the employment, 134 ; American 
and Indian compared, 159 ; cost 
of, 167, 3L0, 323, 336. 

Lawford, Colonel, tries Cotton cul- 
tivation by irrigation in Tanjore, 
111, 256, 371. 

Lees, Mr. Arthur, 259. 

Lees, Mr. David, his Cotton culti- 
vation in Tinnevelly, 259 ; his 
partial success, 280, 371. 

London, the value of Dr. Mudge's 
Cotton, 299. 

Longshaws, Messrs., their efforts at 
Trichendoor, 281. 

Madras, 9 ; distribution of foreign 
Cotton seeds, 32 ; arrival of an 
American saw gin, 45 ; Mr. Fin- 



INDEX. 



Ixi 



nie despatched to report upon the 
district, 87 ; his unfavourable re- 
port, 89 ; the temperature com- 
pared with that of Vera Cruz, 
Mobile, and Natchez, 107 ; mean 
falls of rain, 109 ; establishments 
of Agents in Tinnevelly by the 
Merchants, 162; arrival of Sir 
Henry Pottinger, 225; Dr. 
"Wight's visit, 235 ; arrival of 
twenty-four Cottage saw gins, 
246 ; Cotton yarn exported to 
Vizagapatam, 292 ; experiments 
in Native and foreign Cottons, 297, 
299 ; Cotton imported from Bel- 
lary, 330 ; from Kurnool, 339. 

Madras Presidency, its boundaries, 
4 ; physical features, 5 ; modifica- 
tions of the tropical heat, 6 ; cli- 
mate, 8 ; Eevenue divisions, 9 ; 
Eevenue system, 10 ; introduction 
of Bourbon Cotton, 33 ; opinions 
upon Cotton cultivation, 35 ; large 
experiment in early sowing 
throughout the Cotton districts, 
105 ; failure of American Cotton, 
227 ; Dr. Wight's superintend- 
ence retained, 240 ; survey of the 
present Cotton cultivation, 289. 

Madura, 9 ; description of the soil, 
16 ; Mr. Finnie's arrival, 137 ; 
importance of the cleanliness of 
Cotton known to the inhabitants, 
209 ; good crop of American Cot- 
ton obtained by Mr. Hughes, 211 ; 
small hand threshers sanctioned, 
225 ; Cotton exported to Tanjore, 
303 ; detailed report of the Col- 
lector, 304 ; of the soil, 305 ; 
geology and topography, 306 ; 
climate, 307 ; Cotton seed, 308 ; 
character of the Cotton plant, 
309 ; mode of cultivation, 310 ; 
of manure, 311 ; of disease among 
Cotton plants, 312. 

Malabar, description, 5 ; enjoys the 
S. W. monsoon, 7, 9, 365. 

Malabar Coast, description, 4 ; dis- 
tance from the Western Ghauts, 
5 ; Cotton sowing time, 97 ; 
physical features, 363. 



Malacca, Straits of, 228. 

Mallett, Dr., forwards certain queries 
connected with Indian Cotton to 
the Directors, 304. 

Malta, Cotton seeds sent, 32. 

Maltby, Mr., his tour with Mr. Fin- 
nie through Pullicarny, 89. 

Manchester Commercial Association, 
their suggestion respecting early 
sowing, 92, 105 ; order for 6000 
bales of American Cotton, 121 ; 
object to the use of hand gins, 
168 ; their valuation of Mr. Fin- 
nie's Cotton, 202 ; their unfound- 
ed complaint, 234 ; Cottage saw 
gins constructed under their 
direction, 246 ; urge Mr. Lees to 
try American Cotton in Southern 
India, 259. 

Mangostein, 228. 

Manney, river, 256. 

Manure, question about it, 71 ; its 
composition, 146, 311, 324, 337, 
351, 364. 

Masulipatam, description, note to 
9 ; establishment of a Cotton 
farm, 34. 

Mauritius, Bourbon Cotton brought, 
22 ; varieties of Cotton seeds 
obtained, 32. 

Mayne, Mr. Dawson, his detailed re- 
port upon Tinnevelly, 314 — 321, 

Mc Donnell, Mr., reports on the 
mode of cultivation in Trichin- 
opoly, 302. 

Mercer, Mr., his success in Dharwar, 
80 ; his opinion of the climate of 
India, 107, 109. 

Metcalfe, Mr. Bernard, is sent to 
the Madras Presidency, 34. 

Metcalfe, Sir Charles, his description 
of the village communities, 10. 

Mexican Cotton — See New Orleans, 

Mexico, 92. 

Minchin, Mr., his opinion on the 
obstacles to the increased pro- 
duction of Cotton, 339. 

Mississippi, Cotton growing season, 
106 ; commencement of the Cot- 
ton cultivation, 107 ; crops com- 
pared with those of India, 271. 



Ixii 



INDEX. 



Mobile, temperature, 107. 

Model Fields, Marquis of Tweed- 
dale suggests the establishment, 
224. 

Monsoon,. North-east, its duration, 
7 ; reported failure of the crop in 
consequence of it, 40 ; its effects 
upon Cotton shrub, 42 ; certain 
tracts of land enjoying it, 68; 
seasons on the Coroniandel Coast, 
98; Cotton cultivation, 100; its 
influence upon American plant, 
266 ; its duration in Coimbatore, 
275 ; diseases during its preva- 
lence, 312, 338. 

Monsoon, South-west, its duration, 
7 ; certain tracts of land enjoying 
it, 68; season on the Malabar 
Coast, 101; Cotton cultivation, 
102. 

Montgomery, Sir Henry, discourses 
with Dr. Wight on the state of 
the Cotton farms, 235. 

Morris, Mr., arrives at Madras, 35 ; 
sent to Tinnevelly, 37 ; removed 
to Errode, 39 ; his remarks upon 
the growth of American plants, 
54 ; exchanges Cotton farm with 
Mr. Sherman, note to 65 ; de- 
spatched to Bellary, 87 ; his re- 
port upon it, 88 ; his death, ib. 

Mudge, Dr., experimental culture of 
Brazilian Cotton, 299. 

Mundgood, Mr. Simpson, report, 78, 
365. 

Murray, Mr., his report on Cudda- 
pah, 343, 352. 

Muslins, Indian, stoppage of de- 
mand, 3. 

Mysore, 9 ; elevation above the sea, 
329 ; mode of the Cotton trade, 
365. 

Nadum Cotton — inferior sort of In- 
dian Cotton, 20. 
Nagpore, 292. 
Nankin, 288. 

Natchez, Captain Bayles' visit there, 
35; its temperature, 107. 

Native Cotton— See Indian Cot- 
ton. 



Negapatam, method to increase the 
cultivation of Cotton, 292. 

Negroes, employed in cleaning Cot- 
ton, 14.3 ; picking the Cotton, 153. 

Neilgherries, 299. 

Nellore, 9 ; a grazing district, 296. 

Nelson, Mr., reports upon the work- 
ing of the Cottage saw gin. 

Newill, Mr., 302. 

New Orleans, a Cotton cleaner sent 
to Madras Presidency from, 34. 

New Orleans Cotton, 20, 21 ; com- 
pared with Indian and Bourbon, 
22 ; opinion of Mr Morris re- 
garding it, 40 ; manner of sowing, 
49 ; report of the Brokers upon 
the samples, 59 ; its trial as a 
biennial plant, 64 ; successfully 
cultivated in Dharwar, 76 ; ap- 
proval of Dr. Wight's sample, 92 ; 
high temperature required, 111; 
treatment of the plant as an an- 
nual, 117; insignificance of the 
cultivation of the Ryots, 124 ; 
Mr. Finnie's opinion about its 
growth in Tinnevelly, 127 ; his 
object in cultivating it, 132 ; ex- 
tent of land in India under its 
cultivation, 159 ; its cultivation at 
Courtallum, 161; Mr. Thomas 
recommends its cultivation, 194; 
Coimbatore suitable to its growth, 
214; Dr. Wight offers high 
prices, 225 ; opinion of the Man- 
chester Association, 234; Dr. 
Wight cultivates by irrigation, 
242 ; the action of the Cottage 
gin, 247; objections of the spin- 
ners, 276; successfully cultivated 
on the Coromandel Coast, 279; 
the average height of the plant in 
Coimbatore, 359. 

Nizam, dominions of the, 4 ; Cotton 
exported to Canara, 364. 

North America — See America. 

North American Cotton, varieties of 
the, 20. 

Northern Circars— See Circars. 
Nullamalah mountain, 346. 
Nun j ah land, its description, note to 
235. 



IXDEX. 



Ixiii 



Oliphant, Mr. J., 287. 

Oodoomulcottah, a Cotton farm 
established, 46 ; description of the 
soil, 65. 

Oopum — See Indian Cotton. 

Ootacamund, Mr. Wroughton's ex- 
periment, 66 ; enjoys both mon- 
soons, 68 ; amount of Cotton pro- 
duced by Mr. Wroughton, 72; 
cost of cultivation, 74. 

Overseers — See Planters. 

Pattikondu, talook of, 340. 

Paulghautcherry Pass, enjoys both 
monsoons, 68, 137, 356. 

Paupugny river, 346. 

Pelly, Mr., reports favourably upon 
Dharwar saw gin, 252, 253 ; his 
report upon the district of Bellary, 
331—338. 

Pennar river, 346. 

People's Park, failure of the Brazil- 
ian Cotton, 299 ; successful cul- 
ture of the Egyptian and Bour- 
bon variety, ib. 

Pernambuco, 20 ; successful culture 
on the Coromandel Coast, 279; 
experimental culture by Dr. 
Mudge, 299. 

Petit Gulph, Dr. Wight cultivates 
by irrigation, 242. 

Petrie, Mr., sent to superintend the 
repairs of the gins, 61 ; recom- 
mends to Mr. Finnie the Ceylon 
machinery, 169 ; his opinions 
about gins, 170 ; his best saw gin, 
182. 

Philadelphia, 141. 

Planters, American, sent to India, 
35 ; contemplated removal of 
them to the neighbourhood of 
Salem, 38 ; ordered to carry on 
their operations in Bellary and 
Tinnevelly, 86 ; four points neg- 
lected in their experiment in 
Coimbatore, 90 ; report upon the 
partial suitability of Indian cli- 
mate to American Cotton, 211. 

Planting, 151 ; Mr. Pinnie' s opera- 
tions, 184 ; season for American 
varieties in Madras, 299 ; for In- 



dian Cotton in Madura, 310; in 
Tinnevelly, 323; in Cuddapah, 
347. 

Ploughs, American, compared with 
Native ones, 54. 

Plough, Native, used in banking up 
the ridges, 52 ; compared with 
American ones, 54. 

Pottel soil, description, 317. 

Pottinger, Sir Henry, 28 ; succeeds 
the Marquis of Tweeddale, 203, 
210 ; his neutral position between 
Dr. Wight and Mr. Finnie, 212 ; 
insists upon his resolutions con- 
cerning the Cotton farms, 236 ; 
condemns Dr. Wight's report, 
282 ; recommends the withdrawal 
of the Government Agency, 283. 

Press, hand, 61; expenses, 156; 
recommended by Mr. Finnie, 190 ; 
sanctioned, 191. 

Press, Mr. Finnie' s cheap Cotton, 
195. 

Prince, Mr., contracts to cultivate 
Cotton in Coimbatore, 241. 

Pruning, season for, note to 34. 

Pullicarny, Mr. Finnie' s report 
upon, 89. 

Pulney Hills, 137. 

Punjah land, description of, note to 
235. 

Puttahdars— See Byots. 

Bain, its effects upon Cotton shrub, 
12; mean falls in the Carnatic, 
109 ; in Madura, 307 ; in Tinne- 
velly, 320 ; in Bellary, note to 
333 ; in Coimbatore, 357. 

Baipore, 292. 

Bajahmundry, description, note to 

9 ; Cotton exported to Vizagapa- 

tam, 292. 
Beade, Mr. Charles, reports on the 

extent of Cotton cultivation in 

Chingleput, 297. 
Bed Cotton, 294. 
Bed Loam — See Bed Soil. 
Begur— See Bed Soil. 
Bed Soil, description, 16 ; compared 

with Black Soil, 42 ; given to Dr. 

Wight, 48; result of the second 



lxiv 



INDEX. 



season upon, 55; suitable to 
American Cotton, 215 ; compara- 
tive growth of Indian and Ameri- 
can Cottons in Coimbatore, 266 ; 
the climate of North Arcot, 300 ; 
other crops grown, 318, 355. 

Revenue, divisions, 9 ; systems, 10, 
11 ; divisions of lands, 15 ; assist- 
ance to be given to the Ryots by 
the Establishment, 230. 

Revenue Board — See Board of Re- 
venue. 

Ridging, 49 ; its manner, 52 ; ques- 
tion about it, 54, 360. 

Royle, Dr., queries on Indian Cot- 
ton, 18; his description of the 
Cotton culture, 23 ; his opinion 
on the climate of Dharwar and 
Coimbatore, 211. 

Rundall, Mr., draws a memorial 
upon Cotton cultivation, 34. 

Ryots, 10; mode of their cultiva- 
tion, 23 ; their objection to cul- 
tivate Bourbon Cotton, 36; re- 
ceive instruction from American 
Planters, 37 ; their agreements 
with Dr. "Wight, 44 ; season in 
which they sow seeds, 69 ; re- 
munerative demand required for 
the growth of Cotton, 73; their 
opinion about the Cotton Estab- 
lishments, 79 ; extension of the 
improved method of cultivation 
among them, 84 ; their reluctance 
to adopt the saw gin, 85 ; sowtng 
season for them, 106; plans for 
extending the American Cotton 
culture amongst them, 119; ad- 
vantages arising from an Agent, 
129; their unwillingness to adopt 
the saw gin, 130 ; their co-opera- 
tion essential, 134 ; Mr. Finnie's 
first intercourse with them, 135, 
136 ; reduction of assessment not 
beneficial, 160; visit the scene of 
Mr. Finnie's operations at Aroo- 
poocottah, 173 ; his transaction 
with Brokers, Chetties, and 
Agents, 175; improvident and 
helplessly in debt, 176 ; high 
prices demanded for seed Cotton, 



180 ; their dealings with Dr. 
Wight, 213; the^ Marquis of 
Tweddale's suggestion to estab- 
lish some model fields, 219 ; 
manufacturers should purchase 
directly from them, 221 ; assist- 
ance allowed from the Revenue 
establishment, 230; free use of 
the gin-house, 233; resume all 
the lands that Dr. "Wight had 
contracted, 241 ; prices of Cottage 
saw gins to, 250 ; Mr. Thomas' 
method to induce them to culti- 
vate American Cotton, 158; dis- 
cussion respecting the purchase of 
American Cotton, 260; cultivate 
American Cotton in Coimbatore, 
264 ; their previous reluctance to 
cultivate American Cotton con- 
nected with the existence of Cot- 
ton farms, 265 ; their successful 
culture of American Cotton, 266 ; 
adopt Dr. Wight's practice of 
cultivation, 268 ; their groundless 
suspicions an injury to the farms, 
285; their method of preparing 
the Cotton seed, 308. 
Ryotwary system, 13; its advant- 
ages, 14. 

Salem, 9 ; introduction of Bourbon 
Cotton, 33 ; arrival of the Plant- 
ers, 38; failure of the culture of 
Brazilian Cotton by Mr. Fischer, 
299 ; extent of land under Cotton 
cultivation, 353. 

Saw gin, American, description of, 
26 ; trial, 34, 45 ; reluctance of 
the Ryots to adopt it, 85, 130; 
Mr. Finnie's first year's proceed- 
ings, 141 ; second year's proceed- 
ings, 163 ; its unfitness for Indian 
Cotton, 1 70 ; erection of three at 
Aroopoocottah, 173 ; necessity for 
improving the construction, 182; 
Mr. Finnie's third year's opera- 
tions, 187; cost of cleaning Cot- 
ton, 188 ; Mr. Finnie's matured 

. judgment against its use, 204; 
Dr. Wight's opinion, 210; Mr. 
Finnie's last opinion, 238. 



I^DEX. 



Saw gin, Dharwar, favourable re- 
ports, 252 ; its working compared, 
253. 

Saw gin, Manchester Cottage, note 
to 26 ; description, 245 ; its trial 
upon various Cottons, 247 : ex- 
penses, 248 ; Dr. Wight's favour- 
able report, 249 ; prices to 
Natives and Europeans, 250 ; its 
working compared, 253 ; cost of 
labour, 254. 

Saw gin, Whitney's, note to 26. 

Scinde, 229. 

Scraping — See Hoeing. 

Sea Island Cotton, 20 ; places where 
it is cultivated, 21 ; opinion of 
Mr. Morris, 40 ; manner of sow- 
ing, 49 ; treated as a biennial 
plant in Egypt, 64 ; Mr. Finnie's 
opinion about its growth in Tin- 
nevelly, 127 ; Directors send some 
seed, 235; Dr. Wight cultivates 
by irrigation, 242 ; successful cul- 
tivation on the Coromandel Coast, 
279. 

Sedashegur river, 365. 

Senna, Mr. Hughes', 33. 

Sevacausey, Mr. Finnie's planting 
operations failed, 161 ; erection of 
a cattle- driving machinery, 167 ; 
sanction for the erection of a gin- 
house, 171 ; unsuccessful culture of 
American Cotton, 185 ; Cotton 
plantation established by Mr. Fin- 
nie, 203 ; gin-house and driving 
machinery erected, 207 ; Mr. Fin- 
nie's opinion concerning the gins, 
238. 

Sherman, Mr. Henry, succeeds Mr. 
Hawley, 46 ; exchanges Cotton 
farm with Mr. Morris, note to 65 ; 
Sir H. Pottinger directs him to be 
placed at the disposal of the Col- 
lector of Coimbatore, 232. 

Shevel Soil— See Red Soil. 

Shu brick, Mr., his successful cultiva- 
tion of the Egyptian varieties, 298. 

Silver, Mr., his report upon Cotton 
cultivation in Tinnevelly, 326 ; 
his replies to the queries of Sir 
W. Denison, 327. 



Simpson, Mr., comes to Madras, 35 ; 
sent to Tinnevelly, 37 ; removed 
to Coimbatore, 39 ; his report on 
the districts of North Canara, 76 ; 
his opinion in the failure of the 
Coimbatore farms to extend the 
culture of American Cotton, 79 ; 
recommends the appointment of a 
practical person to distribute seeds 
and exhibit gins, 80 ; his suggest- 
ions approved, 81 ; his transfer to 
Bombay, ib. ; his opinion about 
Kunkur, note to 113 ; is permit- 
ted to act as Cotton Agent by the 
Bombay Government, 139. 

Sirsee, Mr. Simpson proceeds to, 76. 

Soondah, Mr. Simpson ordered to 
report on the soil, 76 ; his report, 
77. 

Soopah, Mr. Simpson ordered to re- 
port on the soil, 76 ; his report, 
78. 

South American Cotton, its varieties, 
20. 

Sowing, 40 ; American system, 49, 
50 ; season, 69, 92 ; Mr. Lees' 
error as regards it, 280 ; method 
adopted in Madura, 310 ; in Tin- 
nevelly, 323; in Bellary, 336; 
in Cuddapah, 349. 

Spinners, trial of the churkaed Cot- 
ton with the ginned, 216 ; object 
to the soft silky fibre of the New 
Orleans Cotton, 276. 

Tanjore, 9 ; Capt. Lawford explains 
the experiment by irrigation to 
the Natives, 111 ; the Collector 
assists Dr. Wight in the planta- 
tion of American Cotton, 216 ; 
the Collector reports favourably 
upon the Cottage saw gin, 251 ; 
Colonel Lawford' s cultivation by 
irrigation, 256; Cotton imported 
from Madura and Tinnevelly, 
303. 

Taylor, Captain, refutes the object- 
ion raised against Bourbon Cot- 
ton, note to 36. 

Taylor, Rev. W., note to 299. 

Tennessee, 143. 



Ixvi 



INDEX. 



Tetley, Mr., reports upon samples of 
Cotton, 43, 45. 

Thomas, Mr. E. B., supports the re- 
commendation of Mr. Finnie's to 
hand- threshers and presses, 191 ; 
believes that Cotton was not adul- 
terated by design, 192 ; recom- 
mends the cultivation of New 
Orleans Cotton, 193 ; delivered 
up all lands under cultivation to 
the Ryots, 241 ; his method to 
induce the Ryots to cultivate 
American Cotton, 258; his re- 
port upon Coimbatore, 354 — 362. 

Thornhill, Mr., describes the stage 
of the Cotton experiment in Krist- 
na, 294. 

Thresher, its description, 27 ; Mr. 
Finnie recommends its use, 131 ; 
his first year's proceedings with 
it, 141 ; second year's proceedings, 
163 ; erection of one at Aroopoo- 
cottah, 173; Mr. Finnie's third 
year's operations, 187 ; cost of 
cleaning Cotton, 188. 

Thresher, hand, recommended by 
Mr. Finnie, 190 ; sanctioned, 191 ; 
Sir Henry Pottinger sanctions the 
establishment, 225. 

Tinnevelly, 9 ; description of the 
soil, 16 ; one of the principal Cot- 
ton districts, 17 ; introduction of 
Bourbon Cotton, 33 ; trial of 
American saw gin, 34 ; establish- 
ment of a Cotton farm, ib. ; three 
American Planters located, 37 ; 
Planters removed, 38; proposed 
operations of the Planters, 86 ; 
Mr. Finnie despatched, 89 ; his 
first impressions of it, 127 ; 
amount of shipment of Cotton 
every year, 129 ; Madras Mer- 
chants establish Agents, 162; Mr. 
Finnie's proposal for the erection 
of a gin-house and cattle driving 
machinery, 166 ; Mr. Finnie's 
notes on the peculiarities of the 
Cotton trade, 175 — 178; stage 
of the Cotton experiments, 183 ; 
meeting of the Cotton Brokers, 187; 
no market or Agency required, 



193 ; scarcity of timber, 207 ; 
good crops of Amerian Cotton 
obtained by Mr. Hughes, 211 ; 
hand threshers are allowed, 225 ; 
Mr. Finnie's departure, 237 ; Mr. 
Lees' cultivation, 259 ; discussion 
concerning the purchase of Ameri- 
can Cotton from the Ryots, 260 ; 
Mr. Lees' partial success, 280; 
failure of the experiment of 
Egyptian Cotton by the Collector, 
298 ; Cotton exported to Tanjore, 
303; detailed report from Mr. 
Mayne, 313; of soil, 314—318; 
geology and topography, 319; 
climate, 320; seed, 321; charac- 
ter of the Cotton plant, 322; 
mode of cultivation, 323 ; manure, 
324; diseases, 325. 
Tinnevelly Cotton, Finnie's, 196 ; 
Dr. Wight's report, 198, 211; 
the action of the Cottage gin upon 
it, 247. 

Tinnevelly Cotton, Hughes', 33,372. 

Travancore, 9, 133, 368. 

Travers, Mr., 302. 

Trichindore, efforts of Messrs. Long- 
shaws, 281. 

Trichinopoly, 9 ; quantity of Cotton 
and mode' of cultivation, 302. 

Tuddey river, 365. 

Turner, Mr. Aspinall, reports the 
opinions of the Manchester Asso- 
ciation regarding Mr. Finnie's 
Cotton, 202. 

Tuticorin, existence of Agency sys- 
tem, 193 ; consumption of good 
Cotton, 205 ; Jaffna driving ma- 
chinery bought, 207 ; the Agents 
report that good Cotton had been 
brought in abundance, 215; the 
principal sea-port, 313, 327. 

Tweeddale, Marquis of, modifica- 
tion of the Cotton experiment, 28 ; 
succeeds Lord Elphinstone, 67 ; 
approves the suggestions of Mr. 
Simpson, 81 ; submits some 
queries to Dr. Wight, 82 ; is in 
favour of the reduction of assess- 
ment of lands under American 
Cotton cultivation, 122; submits 



INDEX. 



Ixvii 



some queries to Mr. Finnie, 142 ; 
recommends Mr. Finnie' s visiting 
England, 186 ; is succeeded by 
Sir Henry Pottinger, 203, 210; 
his views upon the experimental 
farms, 218 — 221 ; purposes to es- 
tablish some model fields, 224. 

United States, 92. 

Upland Cotton, 20, 127, 273. 

Veppel soil, description, 316. 

Yera Cruz, temperature of, 107. 

Verdooputty, unsuccessful culture of 
American Cotton, 185. 

Village Joint Rent System, 10 ; 
evils arising from it, 14 ; its dura- 
tion, 15. 

Virginia, first trial of the growth of 
Cotton, 143. 

Vizagapatam, 9 ; rate of assessment, 
note to 15 ; establishment of a 
Cotton farm, 34 ; insufficiency of 
the Cotton, 292 ; Cotton yarn im- 
ported from Calcutta, ib. 

Wallajapet, Cotton imported from 
Bellary, 330. 

"Weavers, Native, their rivalry with 
Cotton manufacturers, 31 ; object 
to the soft silky fibre of the New 
Orleans Cotton, 276. 

Wedderburn, Mr., reports on the 
present state of Cotton cultivation 
in Cuddapah, 242. 

Weeds, manner of removing, 52, 53 ; 
found in Cuddapah, 345. 

West Indian Cotton — See Bourbon 
Cotton. 

White Cotton, 331. 

Whitney's saw gin, note to 26 ; its 
working, 31. 

Wight, Dr., 28 ; appointed to re- 
port on the state of agriculture in 
South India, 34; succeeds Capt. 
Hughes, 41 ; his plan of opera- 
tions, 44 ; his tour through Coim- 
batore District, ib. ; draws up 
notes upon American system of 
culture, 48 ; his remarks upon 
hoeing, 51 ; upon ploughing and 



ridging, 54 ; upon the growth of 
several plants, 56; his Cotton 
meets the approbation of the Di- 
rectors, 57 > points out the causes 
of the unfavourable results of his 
third season, 62 ; his experiment 
of treating the Cotton plant as a 
biennial, 64 ; determines to re- 
move his farms, 66 ; his opinion 
upon the localities bordering 
Dharwar, 76 ; his answers to the 
queries of the Marquis of Tweed- 
dale, 82 ; his new Cotton farms 
in Coimbatore, 90 ; his reply to 
the suggestion of the Manchester 
Association, 93 ; his notes on the 
adaptation of the American plant 
to the Indian seasons, 95, 118; 
his plan for extending American 
culture among the liyots, 119; 
applies for the reduction of Assess- 
ment on lands under American 
Cotton cultivation, 121 ; proposes 
to establish a number of small 
farms at Coimbatore, 125 ; his 
labours compared with those of 
Mr. Finnie, 126 ; sends saw gins 
to Mr. Finnie, 131 ; requests the 
Madras Government to order Mr. 
Finnie to assist him in completing 
the Directors' order, 138 ; supports 
Mr. Finnie in the purchase of 
cattle driving machinery, 167 ; 
recommends to Mr. Finnie the 
Ceylon Machinery, 169; his re- 
port on Mr. Finnie' s sample, 198 ; 
his system of purchase compared 
with that of Mr. Finnie, 200; 
breach between him and Mr. Fin- 
nie, 210 ; recommends the re- 
moval of Mr. Finnie, 211 ; ap- 
proves of Mr. Finnie' s proceed- 
ings, 214 ; his explanations to 
Mr. Finnie, 216; ascribes the fail- 
ure in Coimbatore to the want of 
humidity, 229 ; the East Indian 
lads under him ordered to go to 
Tinnevelly, 231 ; Sir H. Pottin- 
ger directs him to break up his 
establishment in Coimbatore, 232 ; 
visits Madras, 235 ; applies to be 



x 



Ixviii 



INDEX. 



permitted to sow and gather one 
crop more, 236 ; reversal of the 
order of Sir H. Pottinger by the 
Directors respecting him, 237, 
239, 240 ; cultivates American 
Cotton by irrigation, 242 ; post- 
ponement of his report, 243 ; re- 
ports favourably upon the Cottage 
saw gin, 249 ; compares the work- 
ing of Dharwar gin, Cottage gin, 
and hand gin, 253 ; forwards the 
application of Mr. Bird to Govern- 
ment, 260 ; completion of his 
final report, 262 ; his final report, 
263, 281 ; his report condemned 
by the Madras Government, 282 ; 
his protest against the conclusions 
of the Madras Government, 284 ; 
his retirement, 287. 
"Wool, Cotton, growing demand, 31 ; 
statistics of the importation, ib. ; 
supplies from the Godavery Dis- 



trict, 34 ; amount produced by 
Dr. Wight, 63 ; comparative pro 
duce, 83; difficulty of the Natives 
in procuring, 277 ; its weight in 
Madura, 310 ; in Tinnevelly, 323 ; 
in Bellary, 336. 
Wroughton, Mr., his experiment at 
Coimbatore, and Ootacamund, 66 ; 
causes of the success of the Cot- 
ton experiment, 67 ; cost of culti- 
vation incurred, 74 ; his success 
upon sandy brown loams, 90 ; in- 
forms Dr. "Wight of the offered 
remission of reduction in 1833, 
121 ; goes to Europe, 257. 

Zemindars, account of, 12 ; purchase 

two gins, 164. 
Zemindary lands, 15. 
Zemindary system, 12 ; objections 

against* it, 12 ; evils arising from 

it, 14. 



THE END. 



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